Georgian PM Accuses Transparency International Georgia of Trying to Politicise Saakashvili Case

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia) of political bias and of attempting to portray a criminal case against former President Mikheil Saakashvili as politically motivated.

Speaking to reporters in Leuville, France, Kobakhidze was responding to a statement by TI Georgia concerning the former president.

“There was a period when Transparency International Georgia tried not to openly display its political bias, but now they no longer even shy away from doing so,” Kobakhidze said.

The Prime Minister said the case concerned the alleged misuse of state budget funds during Saakashvili’s presidency, including expenditure on personal and family-related costs.

“Everyone knows very well what this case is about. State budget funds were being spent, including, just imagine, on tuition fees for family members. That is without even mentioning specific luxury items or holidays for public officials at various resorts abroad,” Kobakhidze said.

He argued that similar spending by a public official today would prompt a strong negative public reaction.

“Today, this partisan organisation is attempting to attach a political motive to this case, which is absolutely inconceivable,” Kobakhidze said.

TI Georgia announced on September 25 that it would include Saakashvili on its list of political prisoners. The organisation said its assessment covered several proceedings, including the so-called “suits case” involving alleged misuse of state funds, and concluded that the conviction in that case was unsubstantiated and unjust and that other proceedings it reviewed were politically motivated.