Former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has released another public statement declaring that he will not participate in court hearings, calling the legal proceedings a "political masquerade" and stating that he chooses truth as his weapon to speak directly to the public.
"I no longer intend to participate in this shameful political masquerade, which is an insult to our country.
Consequently, I will not attend court proceedings. My interests will be represented and defended solely by my attorneys," Garibashvili wrote.
He expressed that he faces a harsh reality and refuses to take part in what he describes as a staged event:"Yesterday, the government itself confirmed the authenticity of the letter I published last week.
I want to tell the public once again that I tried everything and did my utmost to avoid this process, but I found myself facing a brutal reality.This is a ruthless political struggle, injustice, and malice directed against me. I no longer intend to participate in this shameful political masquerade, which is an insult to our country. Consequently, I will not attend court proceedings.
My interests will be represented and defended solely by my attorneys.I hereby declare that this decision is not intended to disrespect anyone—neither prosecutors nor judges. Simply put, because this is a political process and I know what and how the system controls political processes, I see no point in attending court hearings and participating in a political masquerade.
I am no longer participating in your show! Nor do I care what you force any prisoner or hostage to write about me through methods of psychological and moral pressure, or what charges you bring against me.What was destined to happen has happened. Therefore, my only path and weapon of struggle is my truth. I intend to speak to the public openly and tell them my truth.
Let the people judge!"Court Scheduling and AbsenceThe Tbilisi City Court has set October 19 as the date for the pre-trial hearing in the case against former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who is accused of receiving an exceptionally large bribe committed by a group.Former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili did not attend today's session.
According to the judge, a statement submitted by the penitentiary facility indicated that the accused refused to participate in today's proceedings. As a result, the hearing was conducted in his absence.Details of the Prosecution's New ChargesThe Prosecutor's Office of Georgia filed new charges against former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili regarding the alleged receipt of an exceptionally large bribe committed by a group with prior agreement.
According to the agency, the case relates to classified state procurement carried out by the Ministry of Defense, which allegedly resulted in a 750,000 GEL bribe being passed to Irakli Garibashvili.The prosecution alleges that the bribe money reached the former prime minister via the defense minister at the time, Juansher Burchuladze.
According to the investigation, competition was artificially restricted during the procurement of medical equipment and inventory for the Ministry of Defense, causing the state to pay significantly higher prices than the actual market value of the goods.
Garibashvili is currently serving a 5-year sentence under a court-approved plea bargain in a separate criminal case. The new charges, under the legal classification cited by the prosecution, carry a potential sentence of 11 to 15 years in prison.
