The leader of the opposition party Droa!, Elene Khoshtaria, has expressed support for former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Both are currently serving prison sentences: Khoshtaria for defacing a campaign banner of Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, and Garibashvili for the legalization of illicit income (money laundering).
“Support to Irakli Garibashvili, who has today fallen victim to political reprisal! Until we accept that legal accountability must be pursued through legal mechanisms rather than political motives or cruelty, we will continue running in a vicious circle. Our struggle is a civilizational one.
This is not a struggle for power. This is a struggle to build a human-centered system! On this basis, we as a society always have the opportunity to take the moral high ground. We are in the process of shaping and crystallizing our values. It is critically important to actively support our political opponents and even enemies when the system treats them unjustly,” Khoshtaria stated in a letter.
According to the opposition politician, society must speak out against the use of such methods precisely when it concerns individuals it finds entirely unacceptable. “This is exactly what distinguishes us from Russians and from the ‘kotsi’ [supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party],” the Droa! leader added.
As a reminder, former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is currently serving a five-year prison sentence. However, in August, he was hit with new charges—accepting an especially large-scale bribe committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.
During the first criminal case, the ex-prime minister pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement; however, following the opening of the new case, he refused to plead guilty and stated that he was under pressure.
