Ex-PM Garibashvili refuses new charges, plans legal fight, lawyer

Jailed former Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili has refused to sign the document setting out new charges against him, does not admit the allegations and plans to challenge them in court, his lawyer Lili Gelashvili said.

Gelashvili on Monday described the new charges as fabricated and politically motivated, saying they were unrelated to the facts of the case.

"Garibashvili did not even sign the document setting out the charges. He does not admit the charges and intends to fight them legally," Gelashvili told journalists.

She said the content of a letter Garibashvili published in July had anticipated what was now happening, despite subsequent claims by officials that the letter was "absurd" or untrue.

"What is happening today is written in substance in the letter sent in July. This is exactly what is happening today. Does anyone still have doubts?" Gelashvili said.

She added that Garibashvili considered the new allegations "absurd" and described the case as political persecution.

The Prosecutor's Office has charged Garibashvili with allegedly accepting a particularly large bribe as part of a group while holding a state political position. The charge carries a potential prison sentence of 11 to 15 years.

Garibashvili is already serving a five-year prison sentence in a separate corruption case.