Tbilisi mayor rejects ex-PM Garibashvili allegations as ‘political speculation’

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said allegations made by former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili in his recent letters have no basis and amount to political speculation.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Kaladze said it was unacceptable to speculate without evidence about a specific case involving the death of a former human rights defender, which has been established as suicide.

“Several days ago, I made a statement and I will repeat it - it is very difficult for me, it is hard and I do not enjoy speaking when the issue concerns a former colleague who has admitted the charges brought against him and is serving his sentence for them. The subsequent statements, which have no basis whatsoever, are ordinary political speculation to me. The same applies to this particular case, which has unfortunately been confirmed as suicide, and speculating on this fact is categorically unacceptable,” Kaladze said.

He added that people can make mistakes in life but should face difficult circumstances with dignity.

“Once again, I say this as a human being - anyone can make a mistake in life, but any hardship should be faced like a man, humanely. I say once again, it is difficult for me to speak about this, but when Irakli Garibashvili - a former prime minister of the country and one of the leaders of our team - and the United National Movement, the enemies of the country, speak in unison, it is very difficult to watch,” Kaladze said.

Asked whether Garibashvili’s latest statements concerning the case should serve as grounds for an investigation, the Tbilisi mayor said that a statement made without facts or evidence cannot constitute grounds for an investigation.