Ex-PM Irakli Garibashvili: I serve neither East nor West, North nor South; I serve Georgia; you stabbed me in the back

“I am fighting no one; you stabbed me in the back, and now I am forced to defend myself and my family against this cruelty and injustice,” former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili wrote on social media.

According to Garibashvili, the government’s panic-stricken reaction and completely erratic behaviour have thoroughly exposed the system.

“The public has witnessed yet another farcical and, at the same time, utterly repulsive and tragic masquerade by the authorities. Instead of providing timely and transparent explanations to specific facts and questions raised, we saw a series of interrogations. One of the main goals was to link me to the United National Movement and paint the whole process as if it were pre-planned and the result of coordinated work with the radical opposition.

Furthermore, I discovered over these past few days that I am supposedly an agent of the Deep State and, simultaneously, an agent for France. I am ‘fortunate’ that I do not speak other foreign languages, or I would likely have been branded an agent of those countries as well.

To this absurd and feeble propaganda tactic, I offer the government this reply: do not waste your breath. Just as oil and water do not mix, connecting me to the United National Movement is impossible.

I would remind the public that, as I understand it, an investigation into the incitement to suicide of Lazare Jorbenadze has been ongoing for nearly five months; yet, those individuals and journalists who publicly raised questions throughout this entire period have still not been questioned. Instead, immediately after my letter was published, authorities began interrogating everyone who publicly responded to it.

Cease these filthy political games targeted against me. The public knows who Irakli Garibashvili is, and our society can easily distinguish between my word and yours. The people also know full well that I serve neither the West, nor the East, nor the North, nor the South. I serve Georgia!

In recent days, I have listened to the disgraceful, fake, and hypocritical statements and comments of many unprincipled individuals. They may expect a response, but I tell them they are not even worthy of an answer from me.

I wish to reply only to Shalva Papuashvili: Shalva, this is not a legal process; this is ruthless political persecution!

Here again, I remind you all: I am fighting no one; you stabbed me in the back, and now I am forced to defend myself and my family against this injustice and cruelty,” Irakli Garibashvili wrote.