“Mamuka Mdinaradze was appointed as the ‘head of extraction.’ Bidzina was not genuinely interested in security. Mamuka Mdinaradze was thrown out for one reason — no money, no Mamuka. That’s it, it’s over,” said United National Movement Political Council Chairman, defendant Levan Khabeishvili during a court hearing.

According to him, Mdinaradze was effectively “sent away to the sidelines.”

At this stage, the court is examining video evidence in the case of Levan Khabeishvili and Murtaz Zodelava.

“I want to comment on the fact that he ended up as a general without a position — a man who personally ensured, of course on Bidzina Ivanishvili’s instructions, my arrest. He gave the order, so I have many questions for his investigators. He was appointed on September 3, and on the 11th he ensured my completely illegal arrest. No self-respecting kindergarten would change its director four times in a year. This is already the fourth head of the State Security Service in less than a year — what condition is the state in?

First, Liluashvili was removed; nobody knows where Okhanashvili disappeared to — he was entrusted with state security and simply vanished; now Geka has been brought in. In less than a year, this is already the fourth head of the State Security Service. As for Mamuka Mdinaradze, it’s almost laughable — they made him disappear. I’ll say it in Kaladze’s language: they sent Mdinaradze off to ‘training camp,’ humiliated him. He became head of the State Security Service and rushed into ranks like a madman — colonel, major, general — and it turns out they did not even want him in that position.

Some previous heads at least had a degree of self-respect. For example, when Liluashvili was removed, he said he did not want another position. Okhanashvili was also removed, reassigned somewhere, realized he had been sidelined and humiliated, and has not appeared since.

Mdinaradze, however, went on television claiming new structures were being created — nothing was created. He was kicked out of the State Security Service. There is no higher position than head of the State Security Service, not even the Prime Minister. He was appointed for six years and could not last even six months — for me, that is tragic.

Why was I arrested? He personally gave the order. The judge who remanded me in custody is, I believe, the spouse of his employee — hardly objective.

Why did Mdinaradze arrest me? I said that they demanded 300 million from Rizhvadzе — they said Khabeishvili was lying. Then they were trying to kill Rizhvadzе. Do we know who is responsible for that? When I asked whether Mdinaradze was there, he himself said he was not. Did the prosecution confirm that? No one said anything. Where is this investigation? Bidzina is not interested in this investigation — he is interested in where the 300 million is, which they said they would ‘extract.’ Where is the money they demanded from Liluashvili?

Liluashvili said he would not bring money and would go to prison instead. Mamuka Mdinaradze was appointed as the ‘head of extraction’ — Bidzina was not interested in security. Mdinaradze was removed for one reason — no money, no Mamuka. That’s it. Money, money — where is the money? And Mamuka was sent home.

He was head of the State Security Service and was brought down to the level of others, but he has no sense of self-respect. In eight months, he became a general, and now he remains a ‘kicked-out general.’

He was dismissed immediately — Bidzina called and said ‘remove him,’ and they removed him. They appeared at the briefing with pale faces. If everything were fine, they would have properly established the structure and then transferred this general. People serve 30 years to become a major, thanking God for their service, and this man became a general in six months — a dismissed general,” Khabeishvili said.