According to the statement of the lawyer of the former Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, Lili Gelashvili, Gharibashvili does not admit the charge brought against him and announces a legal fight.

As the lawyer of Irakli Gharibashvili told journalists in Rustavi, the ex-premier considers himself a political prisoner.

“Today the charge was brought, as was announced at the briefing. This is the taking of a bribe by a person holding a political office. He did not even sign the indictment. He does not admit the charge brought against him and intends to wage a legal fight. After the publication of his letters the phrase was heard several times that this letter was supposedly absurd, did not correspond to the truth, and so on. What is happening today is substantively written in the letter sent in July. Exactly this is happening today. Does anyone still have doubts? The charge that was brought against Irakli Gharibashvili today is fabricated and does not correspond to the truth. Irakli Gharibashvili stated that the charge brought against him is absurd. He understood that they were preparing such a thing for him after the letter that he published was sent. He declares and will probably declare again that this is political persecution against him,” Lili Gelashvili stated.

For information, a new charge has been brought against the former Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, who is in detention. The corresponding statement was made at a briefing held at the General Prosecutor’s Office. As Deputy General Prosecutor Amiran Guluashvili stated, the case concerns a corruption crime, specifically the taking of a particularly large amount of money. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, within the framework of the purchase of medical equipment and inventory needed by the Ministry of Defence, Irakli Gharibashvili himself took 750,000 lari in cash as a bribe; in total, the state suffered property damage of 6,985,255 lari and the public interest was substantially violated.