Vice PM Mdinaradze declines to attack jailed ex-PM Garibashvili over letter

Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze has declined to directly attack jailed former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili over his recent statements, saying he did not consider it appropriate to target someone who is in prison.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Mdinaradze said he would refrain from commenting on Garibashvili's motives or responding aggressively to his allegations.

"I don't think it would be right for me to go on the offensive against a person who is in prison," Mdinaradze said.

Garibashvili wrote on social media on 17 August that a letter had been sent to him "on [ruling party founder] Bidzina Ivanishvili's instructions". In a letter published on 18 August, he said the letter had been sent by Mdinaradze.

Mdinaradze said he would not discuss Garibashvili's intentions, but added that government officials who take an uncompromising position against corruption should be prepared for accusations against them.

"When I personally and other government representatives uncompromisingly confront corruption, we are prepared for similar accusations - perhaps even worse ones," he said.

Mdinaradze said that officials who were not prepared to face such attacks would be unable to fight corruption effectively or carry out their responsibilities.

He described some of the statements directed against the government as unfounded and contradictory, while reiterating that he would not comment further on Garibashvili's motives.

According to Garibashvili's account, the letter Mdinaradze allegedly sent him in July 2026 concerned a proposed new corruption case. Garibashvili claimed the letter told him that his support from former political figures and social-media campaigns supporting him, had caused serious problems for the authorities. He claimed he was given a choice involving a new corruption charge and admitting guilt, despite having already told Mdinaradze that he did not intend to return to politics.

Garibashvili claimed the authorities believed there remained a 1% possibility that he could return to politics, and that this was the reason they wanted him to face another corruption charge and admit guilt. He described that demand as the "red line" that prompted him to publicly break his silence and said he was being forced to fight.