Georgia’s former Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, once a staunch ally of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, now faces serious corruption charges. Prosecutors allege that during his tenure as defense minister and prime minister, Garibashvili engaged in various business activities, amassing significant income of illegal origin. Investigators reportedly discovered $6.5 million in cash during a recent raid on his home.
Garibashvili, 43, who served twice as prime minister between 2013-2015 and again from 2021 to January last year, has pleaded guilty to corruption charges. These charges carry a potential 12-year prison sentence, but he has been granted bail of one million Georgian lari (approximately $368,000).
This high-profile prosecution is the first against a senior member of Georgia’s ruling elite and comes at a time when the ruling party is seen as shifting away from the West. Garibashvili is accused of laundering illicit income and falsely declaring funds as family gifts.
His lawyer, Amiran Giguashvili, stated that Garibashvili is cooperating with the authorities, noting that the court considered his client’s admission of guilt and cooperation with the investigation.
The case against Garibashvili is part of a broader trend of detentions of former government officials. However, this specific prosecution highlights the internal dynamics within Georgia’s ruling party. Political analyst Ghia Nodia suggests this reflects Bidzina Ivanishvili’s waning trust in his former close associates, including Garibashvili and ex-security chief Liluashvili, amidst what Ivanishvili perceives as Western threats to his power.
Georgia’s political climate remains tense, with ongoing protests following the government’s decision to halt EU membership talks. Many opposition leaders have been jailed, and new legislation has targeted civil society organizations, independent media, journalists, and activists.