Georgian PM claims former Gov’t was run by “foreign agents and sadists”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made scathing remarks about the previous government, accusing its members of being foreign agents and, in some cases, outright sadists. Speaking to journalists during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Kobakhidze commented on the work of the parliamentary investigative commission, which he said investigates to reveal what kind of people ruled Georgia from late 2003 to 2012.

“That period was marked by foreign influence—often by foreign agents—and, in many cases, by individuals with sadistic tendencies,” said Kobakhidze. “These were not only unprincipled people; they were cruel and abusive toward others. The entire government back then was driven by this collective mindset.”

The Prime Minister further claimed that so-called “deep state” forces in Europe—and earlier in the United States—have consistently tried to bring the former ruling party back to power in Georgia.

“Let me remind society: the so-called deep state, using European bureaucrats and previously American structures, has tried for years to return these people to power—people responsible for sadism, torture, murder, and the loss of 20% of Georgia’s territory. These efforts to restore such forces to power are a serious threat to our country,” he said.

Kobakhidze called for a political cleansing, urging the removal of these groups from Georgia’s political scene.

“Our democratic system cannot be healthy as long as such political forces remain in the spectrum. Those who committed crimes in the past—and threaten to do so again—must be removed from politics once and for all,” he concluded.

The Temporary Investigative Commission was formed on January 9, 2025, by the ruling Georgian Dream party to probe alleged human rights abuses, business intimidation, media takeovers, and crimes related to the 2008 Russia-Georgia war under the United National Movement government.