UNM leader: Ivanishvili 'replacing political puppets' as Interior Minister quits

Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of the political council of Georgia’s opposition United National Movement (UNM), on Wednesday claimed Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was treating high-ranking officials as “disposable toys”, after resignation of Vakhtang Gomelauri as the country’s Interior Minister. 

Khabeishvili alleged that Ivanishvili had once again "discarded" a senior government figure - this time Interior Minister Gomelauri - following the recent exit of Grigol Liluashvili from the State Security Service. 

"Ivanishvili cannot tolerate anything ‘used’," Khabeishvili claimed, suggesting that the removal of top officials was part of a pattern of political manipulation. “He has thrown away Gomelauri like a used piece. This fate awaits others too. He wants to replace the old toys with new ones in his de facto government.”

Gomelauri, a close ally of the Georgian Dream leadership, was recently targeted by international sanctions. Khabeishvili pointed to his recent inclusion on the US Magnitsky list and claimed the US has labeled him among “terrorists and murderers,” for the law enforcement response to protests in Tbilisi and regions against halted EU integration. 

Khabeishvili also criticized the appointment process for the new interior minister, asserting it was the result of internal lobbying within the ruling party. He claimed Mamuka Mdinaradze, the GD executive secretary, as the key figure behind the selection.

"This is all a game of toys. Whether it's Mdinaradze appointing someone or Ivanishvili discarding someone, our main objective must be clear - to overthrow Ivanishvili and dismantle his system of governance,” Khabeishvili said.