Zurab Eristavi, founder of RENTALS and Eristavi Estates, has spoken out against the arrest of prominent businessmen and political leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze, calling their detention deeply troubling.
In a social media post, Eristavi highlighted the significant contributions both men have made to Georgia’s business landscape, stating that their achievements are unmatched in the country’s modern history.
“In the modern history of Georgia, there are only a few people who have created such responsible businesses as those of Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze,” Eristavi wrote.
He criticized the way the authorities have handled the situation, implying that instead of recognizing their impact and navigating issues constructively, the state has forced them into an unfair dilemma.
“We should be able to handle such people, not to trap them in a dilemma. The truth is one, and we all know it,” he added.
Khazaradze and Japaridze, leaders of the "Lelo – Strong Georgia" party and founders of TBC Bank, were arrested on June 23 in connection with their refusal to appear before the parliamentary “Tsulukiani Commission.” They were sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from holding public office for two years.
Their detention has sparked criticism both domestically and internationally, with concerns raised over political motivations, judicial independence, and the state of democracy in Georgia.
