Georgian ruling party official accuses US Congressman Wilson of taking bribes from opposition

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the executive secretary of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, has accused US Congressman Joe Wilson of accepting bribes from the country’s political opposition.

In his press comments on Friday, Mdinaradze suggested that Wilson’s recent criticism of the Georgian government was influenced by alleged financial ties to opposition groups.

“It seems that he has changed his style. We did not pay him money,” Mdinaradze said, implying that Wilson’s shift in tone toward the ruling party was linked to alleged payments from the opposition United National Movement – the previous ruling party between 2004-2012.

He also claimed that Wilson previously maintained cordial relations with Georgian leaders but had now turned against them for specific reasons.

The accusations come after Wilson, who chairs the US Helsinki Commission, accused the Georgian government of electoral fraud and alleged collaboration with authoritarian regimes such as Russia, China and Iran.

Mdinaradze also called the Congressen a “self-described” Donald Trump supporter, claiming their views “actually differ”.