Lelo opposition leader announces defamation suit against ruling party head

Mamuka Khazaradze, the leader of the Lelo opposition party and a co-founder of the domestic TBC Bank, on Sunday announced a defamation lawsuit against Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, following the latter’s allegations over Khazaradze’s alleged engagement in racketeering business under the previous, United National Movement Government. 

 

“Defamation and mud-slinging in Georgian politics must end! We are waiting for you in a court with documents”, Khazaradze said in his social media post, claiming Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the GD –  labeled as a “shadow ruler” of the country by the opposition – had launched “another, dirty campaign” against him with the use of Kobakhidze. 

 

“Kobakhidze will have to prove this accusation in the court, where he will surely lose”, Khazaradze added. 

 

Kobakhidze on Sunday responded to Lelo’s demands of impeachment against Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili for his US trip in August, and claimed the PM had used his own funds for the commercial flight and the party, “whose leader was engaged in racketeering business”, was trying to use the topic for “political speculations”. 

 

An opposition-minded TV channel last week accused the PM of using a “state-funded” charter flight to the US to accompany his son at Pennsylvania University upon the start of a new academic year. 

 

The Government claimed the PM had used a “commercial flight” from Tbilisi to Munich and Garibashvili had  himself covered the costs, without publishing related checks and urging the opposition to wait for an annual declaration of state officials.