Irakli Garibashvili releases another letter from prison

Former Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, releases another letter.

In the letter, Irakli Garibashvili speaks at length about the start of his court trial, characterizing the case as a "politically motivated absurdity built on defamation." The former prime minister clarifies the work carried out during his tenure regarding the development of the army and strengthening the state's positions on the David Gareja issue.

According to Garibashvili, he "served with all his heart" the Georgian army and the motherland, while the ongoing "political persecution and defamation" against him is an insult to the country, the government itself, and the ruling party.

"On October 19, my court trial began. Regarding this, I would like to state that this is a politically motivated case built on defamation, and the public will learn the full truth about the details of this absurd case during the course of the trial.

Because the defamatory charge brought against me touches upon one of the most sensitive issues—the Ministry of Defense and the country's defense capability—I consider it appropriate to briefly share with the public what was done to strengthen the country's defense during my tenure as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

During this period, the following were implemented:

Long-term development planning for the Defense Forces;

Renewal of military equipment and weaponry;

Improvement of military infrastructure and social conditions for military personnel;

Approximation with NATO standards and transition to weaponry corresponding to NATO standards;

Development of military aviation and air defense capabilities, and many other important projects.

'Everything best for the army!' — this was my motto upon which I based my vision, policy, and every decision as soon as I was appointed minister. Together with the Defense Forces, we presented to the public a 10-year development strategy and action plan (I later made this experience and example mandatory for the entire government, for all ministries).

Together with my team and the Defense Forces, we began large-scale work to develop military infrastructure. All military bases were renovated and rehabilitated in accordance with unified NATO standards. By the end of 2023, 270 facilities were constructed and rehabilitated, including barracks, dining halls, sports complexes, and residential blocks. In total, more than 500 facilities were renovated.

We built the 'Army City' and handed over apartments to more than 1,000 military personnel at minimal cost. We wrote the obligations and guarantees for the continuation of this project into the Defense Code to ensure its mandatory continuation even after my departure from office.

In line with the above motto, I tried to do everything best for the soldiers: personal equipment, uniforms, footwear, settled social issues, salaries increased by 50%, fully renewed vehicle fleet, military vehicles, special equipment, armored vehicles, updated weaponry, and replenishment of reserves. Dozens of contracts were signed for the procurement of weaponry, we restored and purchased air defense systems, fully restored military aviation—aircraft and helicopters—strengthened artillery, logistics, and all defense capabilities...

This is a brief list of the work that was done for our army during my tenure.

If anyone knows what I did for the army during my tenure as Minister of Defense and Prime Minister, it is, first and foremost, our army that knows.

To confirm this, I will recall another fact: until 2020, 'Georgian Dream' lost all elections at closed military polling stations. Only during my time as Minister of Defense, in the 2020 parliamentary elections, 'Georgian Dream' received 85–90% of the votes at closed military polling stations. I think even this fact alone speaks volumes about many things.

The adoption of the new Defense Code was important, as it regulated many problematic issues. I would particularly like to highlight one of the most anti-national and sacrilegious projects, the so-called 'Girchi project,' which led more than 10,000 young people astray and allowed them to evade military service...

We restricted and abolished this anti-state project. The Code also regulated the reform of compulsory military service, according to which recruitment for compulsory military service today is carried out solely within the defense establishment.

Specific modules were developed. After completing a six-month program, a young person will have received both theoretical and practical knowledge. As a result, the country will have psychologically and morally prepared, healthy patriots—reservists. The preliminary preparatory phase for this process was and is military camps for schoolchildren.

I speak of all this so that our population knows what the interests of our country and its defense mean to me personally.

Now, when I am accused of what I have never committed, I recall the words of a great writer:

'Defamators of all times knew well that the most brutal punishment of a person occurs when they are accused of the very thing they themselves fought against.'

Here I would also like to recall the issue of David Gareja. During my time as Minister of Defense, we resumed work in this direction.

I want the public to know that years ago, during my first premiership, we attempted to obtain original maps, which were necessary to strengthen Georgia's positions in negotiations.

Until 2020, three prime ministers, two defense ministers, and three ministers of internal affairs changed in the country. Unfortunately, nothing was done regarding David Gareja. On the contrary, the situation worsened.

Under my coordination, a working group was created at the Ministry of Defense. We restored the full picture and studied the criminal acts committed in the past. It turned out that the individuals who attempted to distort Georgia's border using incorrect maps based on decisions made during Saakashvili's rule were still members of the state commission.

Soon, a specific vision, opinions, and ways forward prepared by professionals from the Cartography Department of the Ministry of Defense were presented by me to the founder of the party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, through whose efforts it became possible for David Khidasheli to bring the original maps to Tbilisi. Legal measures were also taken—an investigation was launched.

As a result, the state's positions were significantly strengthened. The Patriarchate of Georgia was fully informed about this, and from day one, Archimandrite Kirion of the David Gareja Monastery was involved in the process (it was at his initiative and inspiration that I began working on the David Gareja issue during my first premiership and resumed the process with him upon returning as Minister of Defense).

By my decision, the state commission was also renewed, into which we introduced new members—patriotic professionals.

The court process continued until the end of 2023. We had also selected international consulting companies to assist us with legal issues.

Azerbaijan is our friend, strategic partner, and neighboring state. I hope that negotiations will continue in this very spirit and the David Gareja issue will be resolved justly.

And finally, I served our army and our motherland with all my heart. The political persecution and defamation ongoing against me is an insult to our country, to the government itself, and to the ruling party," reads the statement.