Ex-Pres Saakashvili warns opposition against alliance with former PM Garibashvili

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has criticised opposition politicians who, he claims, are seeking to distance themselves from him and form an alliance with former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Saakashvili argued that Garibashvili should not be considered a political prisoner, saying he had never expressed views contrary to those of Bidzina Ivanishvili and the ruling Georgian Dream party before his arrest.

Saakashvili further alleged that Garibashvili had been involved in serious crimes while holding public office and described him as a representative of a “criminal organisation” rather than a politician.

He claimed that some opposition politicians were considering an alliance with Garibashvili because they believed he had financial resources and influence over certain sections of Georgian Dream.

Saakashvili described such an approach as both immoral and politically impractical, adding: “Seeking to distance yourself from me and join forces with Garibashvili is a thousand times worse than an alliance with the Gilauri.”