UNM’s Tsitlidze: anyone else facing charges like former PM Gharibashvili would be in prison

One of the leaders of the opposition United National Movement, Anna Tsitlidze, on Monday said former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was receiving preferential treatment in the ongoing corruption case against him.

Tsitlidze added if any other individual were accused of the same offenses, they would already be behind bars.

“Behind this entire corruption scheme stood Gharibashvili and his clan, stealing tens of millions from Georgian citizens. If the investigation truly proceeds, they could trace it down to each ministry, agency, institution and every person directly involved. They may end up having to arrest dozens of people”, Tsitlidze claimed.

She further argued that the ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili had a vested interest in keeping Gharibashvili out of prison.

“What we are witnessing is not a fight against corruption, but Ivanishvili’s racket. According to this scheme, Gharibashvili must remain outside the prison walls to return the money they have stolen. That is why Ivanishvili does not need Gharibashvili, nor [former head of Georgia’s State Security Service, Grigol] Liluashvili, imprisoned”, Tsitlidze said.