Ex-PM Garibashvili corruption case is ‘tragedy’ for ruling party, MP Samkharadze

Georgian Parliament Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Nikoloz Samkharadze on Tuesday said it is a "tragedy" for the ruling Georgian Dream team that former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili is facing corruption charges, while arguing that the case demonstrates the government's willingness to hold even senior officials accountable.

"It is a difficult fact for the team that a former prime minister is accused of corruption. I can say that it is also a tragedy when high-ranking officials are accused of this kind of crime," Samkharadze told Georgia's First Channel.

He said the ruling team's strength was demonstrated by its ability to acknowledge such cases and take steps to prevent similar offences in the future.

Samkharadze also said there was no political persecution or political prisoners in Georgia, arguing that anyone serving a sentence had been convicted under a specific provision of the Criminal Code.

The Prosecutor's Office brought a new charge against Garibashvili on 24 August, accusing him of accepting a particularly large bribe.