Irakli Garibashvili made the right decision for everyone, including for the institution he represented. Of course, he calculated all the risks, and probably no one would have wanted even more “dirt” to be brought out - details themselves create even more dirt, said Parliament Vice-Speaker Nino Tsilosani while speaking to journalists, commenting on the arrest of former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

According to her, both sides in the case understood the sensitivity of the issue, and cooperation was “the best decision for this painful, sensitive, and multi-component process.”

“Naturally, family members are especially distressed by all of this and will be upset in this regard. However, I think that Irakli Garibashvili made the right decision when he cooperated with the investigation. Among other things, the continuation of cooperation with the investigation is the fact that this matter was concluded not through court proceedings, but through a plea agreement and in this form. Both sides understood the sensitivity of the issue, and I believe this was the best decision for this painful, sensitive, and multi-component process.

If Irakli Garibashvili’s relatives are demanding a court trial, the person who could have ensured that was Irakli Garibashvili himself, but he made the right decision by cooperating with the investigation.

In my opinion, Irakli Garibashvili made the right decision for everyone, including for the institution he represented. He was the Prime Minister, and of course it is quite painful and damaging for everyone that a person in such a position, who enjoyed a fairly high rating, found himself facing such charges. Naturally, he calculated all the risks, and probably no one would have wanted even more dirt to be exposed. Court proceedings would ensure that, wouldn’t they? Numerous witnesses would be questioned, facts would become public, and probably taking all of this into account, he made this decision - a decision with which I personally fully agree,” Tsilosani said.

In response to a clarifying question about what would constitute “more dirt,” Tsilosani replied that “details in themselves create more dirt.”

For reference, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia reached a plea agreement with former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. He was sentenced to five years of imprisonment. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Garibashvili was also fined 1 million GEL as an additional penalty, and the funds obtained as a result of criminal activity and seized during the search of his residence will also be confiscated.