Convicted former Georgian PM Garibashvili: 'Authorities left me no choice, I have to fight'
Letter from Georgia’s former prime minister from prison
Convicted former Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili says in a letter published from prison that the authorities arrested him to end his political career. He also says he gave up his legal fight to avoid a confrontation with the authorities.
The former prime minister writes that he received a letter from Regional Development Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze in July. According to Garibashvili, he confirmed to Mdinaradze that same day that he did not intend to return to politics.
Mamuka Mdinaradze’s press office has described Garibashvili’s claims as “complete absurdity”.
“I state with full responsibility that I did everything to avoid confrontation with the [ruling] team and with someone who is dear to me,” Garibashvili wrote.
He says this is why he abandoned his legal challenge and went through the entire process to the end — to avoid, as he put it, harming the interests of the state and the “team”.
“Unfortunately, in response I received a staged dirty provocation, a sea of lies and injustice. Throughout this time, the public heard not a single word from me. I endured this ordeal patiently,” Garibashvili said.
According to Garibashvili, despite the position he had expressed to Mdinaradze, the authorities believed there was still a “1% risk” that he might return to politics in the future.
“To avoid this, they wanted me to face corruption charges and admit guilt,” Garibashvili writes.
According to him, this demand became a “red line” that forced him to take the “most difficult step of my life” — to turn against the authorities.
“I have no other choice. I am forced to start fighting,” the former prime minister said.
On 17 August 2026, Garibashvili made his first public statement from prison. In a Facebook post, he said he had received an ultimatum in a letter sent on the instructions of Bidzina Ivanishvili. He added that he had “no other choice” but to stand against what he described as “evil that insults my dignity”.
“I tried to do everything possible to avoid taking this step, but unfortunately I have no other choice but to confront this evil that insults my dignity. I must confront this ruthless cruelty, oppression and injustice, as well as the dirty plan to destroy me and my family,” Garibashvili wrote.
He also said that Bidzina Ivanishvili and the government bear responsibility for the safety of both himself and his family.
In the letter, Garibashvili says he had remained publicly silent and patiently endured what was happening until now. However, he says the current situation has left him no choice but to begin fighting.
Letter from Georgia’s former prime minister from prison
