Kurtanidze: I Was, Am and Will Be a Comrade-in-Arms of Irakli Garibashvili

Former Georgian Dream MP Luka Kurtanidze said he is proud of his comradeship with Irakli Garibashvili. He spoke to journalists at the Tbilisi City Court, where he attended the hearing of the former prime minister's case.

Kurtanidze said: "State institutions are working and an appropriate decision will be made, but most importantly, if it hurts Irakli, it hurts me too, and behind me there are hundreds of thousands of comrades-in-arms who defeated the 'National Movement' together with Irakli. Since 2012, it is the merit of every comrade-in-arms that today there is peace in Georgia. You mentioned the 'Man of the People', Bidzina Ivanishvili, of course he will be saddened, because Irakli grew up with him.

"You have comrades? If a comrade is hurting, all comrades are hurting, what is surprising here? The Man of the People is also a human being. Do not forget today's time in Saakashvili's era. When the judge was Saakashvili, the prosecutor was Saakashvili and the ruler was Saakashvili. I am proud that I was, am and will be a comrade-in-arms of Irakli Garibashvili."

Former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and his relative, convicted Vasil Mkheidze, gave testimony against Garibashvili. According to their testimony, in exchange for procurements, guarantees and patronage, Burchuladze handed 750,000 lari of the 1,500,000 lari received as a bribe to Garibashvili in cash, and kept the remaining 750,000 lari for himself. As a result, the state suffered property damage of 6,985,255 lari and the public interest was essentially violated.

The Prosecutor's Office charged Garibashvili under Article 338, Part 2, subparagraphs "a" and "g", and Part 3, subparagraph "e" of the Criminal Code. This implies taking a bribe by a holder of a state-political position, committed by a group and in especially large amounts, and provides for imprisonment from 11 to 15 years.

Garibashvili has been convicted of legalizing illegal income in especially large amounts. Under a plea agreement, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined 1 million lari.