Former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has published another statement, provided below in full:
"I have listened to the comments made by government officials, as well as the false and defamatory statements from their experts. I see the unbridled propaganda across television and social media. All of this was, of course, expected, and their goal is clear to me; however, I want to tell you that you are wasting your time.
Mdinaradze delivered this letter through a close friend of his to a member of my family. That person inadvertently got caught up in this mess, which is why I am intentionally withholding their name.As for Mdinaradze, if he does not wish to harm innocent people, he should stop circulating lies and take full responsibility. I would like to remind the public once again that I have been sitting silently in prison for eight months now. No one has heard a single public word from me. I have not taken a single step to the right or to the left.
Now, I address the government: from the very beginning, you set up a dirty provocation against me, laid a cowardly trap, and I trusted your word—following you with honest and blind trust. Yet, you lied to me, betrayed me, abandoned me, and raided my house like a robber and a criminal, terrorizing my family, my wife, and my children. You raided the homes of my mother, my father, and my parents-in-law…I bore all this terrible pain and tragedy in my heart with patience and silence out of respect for my 20-year relationship with Bidzina Ivanishvili, driven by my deep love, respect, boundless gratitude, and absolute loyalty to him…
As well as for the interests of my political family, team, and country, I wordlessly shouldered this heavy burden and walked willingly into the ruthless sacrifice you arranged. As a result, you sent me to prison for a five-year sentence—all due to false perceptions, fantasies, envy, fears, and suspicions fabricated by a specific group within the team. You condemned and sacrificed me to prison for absolutely no reason.
Now, even in prison, you give me no peace. You approached me with this letter, demanding an admission of guilt on corruption charges to hedge against a mere one-percent risk you envisioned, ensuring I am permanently removed from politics.All of this was accompanied by immoral blackmail and pressure—hinting for the second time at the potential arrest of my 75-year-old father. You touched the deepest layers of my heart and soul, quite literally causing me to 'explode' and leaving me with no other choice… I am not fighting anyone; I am only defending myself and my family. Therefore, I will be forced to respond symmetrically to every step you take.
Regarding the disgraceful and slanderous campaign organized by you across social networks and media, along with the false narratives of your experts and spokespersons, I will tell you one thing: be careful—you will soon be ashamed of your own statements once you realize my truth. You all know me well; I am still the same Irakli Garibashvili I always was, possessing the same clean heart and unwavering loyalty with which I served our homeland, all of you, and the entire team. You are trying in vain to frame me as a traitor to the country, the team, and Bidzina Ivanishvili.
I 'shall not align with the wicked'... I have never stood against my country, and I never will. Therefore, stop and be silent!And finally, I want to state clearly once again: I am not fighting against anyone; I am only defending myself and my family!"
