Opposition figure claims government using corruption cases to tighten control

An opposition leader from the United National Movement (UNM), Ana Tsitlidze, has accused Georgia’s “informal ruler” Bidzina Ivanishvili of “using recent corruption arrests to consolidate political power and intimidate officials.”

Tsitlidze said members of the ruling establishment were uncertain about who may be targeted next.

“No one knows who will be next. Everyone is tense, everyone is afraid because everyone is making money there,” she said, claiming that senior figures feared being punished if they were perceived to have acted against Ivanishvili’s interests.

She alleged that Ivanishvili was now “turning against his own regime’s members” to reinforce hierarchy and discourage dissent.

“If someone steals more than Ivanishvili, they will be punished like Garibashvili,” she said, referring to the former prime minister’s recent fall from power.

Tsitlidze argued that the ultimate goal was to eliminate differing political views, opposition parties and civil society voices.

Her comments come after the arrest of Koba Gabunia, a former deputy minister of regional development and infrastructure, on charges of abuse of power. Searches were also carried out at the residences of former minister Irakli Karseladze and other individuals as part of the ongoing investigation.