MP Zviad Shalamberidze: Former party leader has a heightened duty not to play into opposition’s hands with unsubstantiated claims

“The latest statement lacked supporting facts and arguments, allowing various opposition leaders to seize upon it and weaponise it against our team. When such statements come from someone who was a leader of our party, they carry a double responsibility to avoid offering the opposition grist for their mill,” Georgian Dream MP Zviad Shalamberidze stated regarding Irakli Garibashvili’s recent letter.

Shalamberidze expressed hope that in future, such unfounded claims, which the opposition eagerly leverages against Georgian Dream without a shred of evidence, will not recur.

“Citing a newspaper article is hardly a serious basis for action. It cannot serve as a compelling argument for us to launch formal proceedings or take subsequent steps. Concrete facts and evidence must back any such public letter by a former leader of our team; otherwise, it lacks credibility. Neither the public nor our team can take it seriously. As a member of Georgian Dream, I hope we will not see further statements of this nature that damage our party,” Zviad Shalamberidze stated.