Ex-Pres Saakashvili denies Ivanishvili funded salaries of Georgian military and police

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has rejected claims that the ruling Georgian Dream party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili paid the salaries of police officers, servicemembers and government officials during his presidency, calling the allegations “an absolute lie”.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Saakashvili said Ivanishvili had not contributed to public sector salaries, military equipment or the construction of military facilities during his time in office.

Saakashvili also recalled a meeting with Ivanishvili, claiming the billionaire had questioned why police officers needed such high salaries and suggested that issuing them identification documents and weapons would be enough for them to earn the rest themselves.

He described the remark as reflecting the thinking of a “typical Russian oligarch”.

Saakashvili said the only military facility Ivanishvili had been compelled to finance was a military base in Sachkhere, which he described as considerably smaller than the bases built in Gori and Senaki using state budget funds.

He further claimed his government financed military and police infrastructure using public revenues generated after it shut down the Ergneti black market and tackled corruption.

He also accused Ivanishvili’s associates of misappropriating large amounts of public money since coming to power in 2012.

Saakashvili’s comments came in response to recent statements by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who claimed that Ivanishvili had helped strengthen Georgia’s military and police before the 2008 war, including by supporting salaries, uniforms and other resources.