Opposition leader Gvaramia urges jailed ex-PM Garibashvili to tell the truth about Ivanishvili

Opposition leader Nika Gvaramia has urged jailed former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili to publicly disclose what he knows about Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, warning that people close to Garibashvili could eventually testify against him.

"Tell the truth," Gvaramia said, addressing Garibashvili. "If you cannot defeat him, weaken him at least. If not in the name of exposing him and justice, then at least to hurt and weaken the enemy."

Gvaramia accused Garibashvili of protecting Ivanishvili instead of speaking publicly about alleged crimes and urged him to resist what he described as subordination to a political superior.

He also warned Garibashvili that people close to him could eventually provide damaging testimony against him.

"Eventually, people will testify against you in such a way that your heart and liver will burn with pain. The people closest to you will tell such things about you that you will burn with shame," Gvaramia said.

He urged Garibashvili to think about his children and demonstrate that he was resisting rather than remaining submissive.

The comments came after the Prosecutor's Office brought a new charge against Garibashvili of 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 has rejected the new allegations through his lawyer and said he intends to fight the charges in court.