The only thing I can tell you in connection with this case is that this has no connection whatsoever with the law and this is fully a political process. Irakli Gharibashvili today is a political prisoner, - this was stated by the sister of Irakli Gharibashvili’s wife and lawyer, Natia Tamazashvili.

In addition, as the lawyer explained, Irakli Gharibashvili does not admit the charge and did not sign the indictment.

“I cannot tell you whose interests this serves; this is not subject to logic. With my personal assessment I can tell you that the ongoing processes are illogical; there is talk in general about a non-existent charge. This is a fully political process and Irakli Gharibashvili is today politically persecuted. In my assessment Irakli is a political prisoner; [they have changed] all those ongoing events that Irakli noted in several published statements. Apart from this, what else can be said that was public and accessible to everyone, where the preconditions that brought us to this point were clearly outlined. Naturally, it was not known to us what was being talked about, but the content indicated in that letter, which became known to us and about which Irakli was speaking, has today been confirmed by the authorities. Naturally, Irakli will say what he has to say. This process, where we are today, was personally unimaginable for me. I can tell you unequivocally that there is no talk of any bribe whatsoever; Irakli Gharibashvili neither admitted it nor signed this charge, and naturally everything will be clarified during the ongoing period,” Natia Tamazashvili stated to “TV Pirveli.”

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.

The Prosecutor’s Office has brought charges against Gharibashvili under Article 338, Part 2, sub-paragraphs “a” and “g,” and Part 3, sub-paragraph “e” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which means the taking of a particularly large amount of a bribe by a person holding a state-political office, in a group, and provides for a penalty of deprivation of liberty from 11 to 15 years.