Georgian Vice PM on jailed ex-PM Garibashvili’s letter: Government ready for worse accusations after uncompromising anti-corruption fight

Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and State Minister for Regional Policy Issues, said on Wednesday that the Georgian Government was ready to face accusations similar to, or even worse than, those being made by imprisoned former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, following an uncompromising fight against corruption.

Mdinarade’s remarks came after Garibashvili on Tuesday published a letter saying he had not committed a crime and had gone to prison because he did not want to harm the interests of the state and his political team.

Responding to a journalist’s question, Mdinaradze said that commenting on Garibashvili’s motives would be inappropriate, noting that Garibashvili was currently in detention.

“Let me not speak about his [Garibashvili’s] goals; I will refrain from doing so. Garibashvili is currently in detention. Given my position, I do not think it would be entirely appropriate to go on the offensive. However, I can tell you one thing with complete sincerity: when I personally, along with other government representatives, took an uncompromising stance against corruption, we were ready for similar accusations, perhaps even worse ones. Such accusations have been made, are being made, and will continue to be made”, Mdinaradze said.

“If a government representative is not ready for this, then it is impossible to fight corruption or ensure efficient management”, he noted.