Jailed ex-PM Garibashvili seeks to intimidate officials, obstruct legal process, ruling party MP

Parliament’s European Integration Committee Chair Levan Makashvili said former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili was attempting to evade legal responsibility through what he described as “empty words” aimed at intimidating state representatives and obstructing the legal process.

“Garibashvili is trying to escape legal responsibility. What evidence is he basing his statements on? He has nothing - they are futile, empty words. No matter how much political meaning they attach to their actions or how much they exploit someone else’s misfortune, no one can escape legal responsibility,” Makashvili said.

According to the ruling Georgian Dream MP, further questioning of other individuals would likely confirm attempts to manipulate the fate or misfortune of others.

“We are not accusing anyone of anything. Irakli Garibashvili himself admitted his crime. There is concrete evidence in the case, and this person is directly implicated. Unfortunately, high-ranking officials indicate that he committed a crime,” Makashvili said.

He added that Garibashvili’s statements were an attempt to pressure state representatives and interfere with the ongoing legal proceedings.

“This is an attempt, through empty words, to intimidate state representatives and obstruct the legal process. There is nothing more behind this,” Makashvili said.