Garibashvili Releases Another Letter From Prison, Calls Trial Politically Motivated

Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili released another letter from prison. According to him, the trial that began on October 19 is a politically motivated case based on defamation, and the public will learn the details of this "absurd case" as the proceedings unfold.

According to Garibashvili, the charge against him concerns one of the most sensitive issues, the Ministry of Defence and the country's defence capability, so he briefly shared with the public what was done to strengthen defence during his terms as prime minister and defence minister. He listed long-term development planning for the defence forces, renewal of military equipment and armaments, improvement of military infrastructure and the social conditions of servicemen, bringing standards closer to NATO and transition to NATO-compatible armament, as well as development of military aviation and air defence capabilities.

The former prime minister said his motto was "everything for the army!". According to him, together with the defence forces, they presented a 10-year development strategy and action plan, which later became mandatory for the entire government and all ministries.

Garibashvili writes that all military bases were repaired and rehabilitated in line with unified NATO standards. By the end of 2023, 270 facilities were built and rehabilitated, including barracks, canteens, sports complexes and residential buildings, and in total more than 500 facilities were repaired. According to him, an "army town" was built and more than 1,000 servicemen were given apartments at minimal cost. The obligation and guarantees to continue this project were written into the Defence Code.

He also named the renewal of personal equipment, uniforms and footwear, resolving social issues, salaries increased by 50%, a fully renewed vehicle fleet, military vehicles, special equipment, armoured vehicles, updated armaments and replenishment of reserves. According to Garibashvili, dozens of contracts were signed for the purchase of armaments, air defence systems were restored and acquired, military aviation was fully restored, and artillery, logistics and all defence capabilities were strengthened.

Garibashvili says that until 2020 Georgian Dream lost all elections in the closed military precincts. According to him, only during his tenure as defence minister, in the 2020 parliamentary elections, the party received 85–90% of the votes in these precincts.

In the letter, Garibashvili also reviews the new Defence Code. According to him, the code restricted and abolished the so-called "Girchi project", which, in his assessment, had allowed more than 10,000 young people to avoid military service. The code also regulated the mandatory military service reform, under which conscription is carried out only within the defence agency. Specific modules were developed, and after a six-month programme young people will have theoretical and practical knowledge. The preliminary preparatory stage of this process is military camps for schoolchildren.

Garibashvili also recalled the issue of David Gareja. According to him, work in this direction was renewed during his tenure as defence minister, while during his first premiership they tried to obtain original maps, which was necessary to strengthen Georgia's positions in negotiations. According to his statement, before 2020 three prime ministers, two defence ministers and three interior ministers were replaced in the country, yet nothing was done regarding David Gareja and the situation worsened.

According to Garibashvili, under his coordination a working group was created in the Ministry of Defence, which restored the full picture and studied the criminal actions committed in the past. It became clear that persons who attempted to redraw the border with incorrect maps on the basis of decisions adopted under Saakashvili were still members of the state commission. According to him, the vision prepared by the Cartography Department was presented to Bidzina Ivanishvili, whose efforts made it possible to bring the original map documents from David Khidasheli to Tbilisi. An investigation was also launched.

Garibashvili writes that as a result the state's positions were strengthened, the Patriarchate was informed, and Archimandrite Kirion of the David Gareja monastery was involved in the process. According to him, by his decision the state commission was renewed and new members joined its composition. The court process continued until the end of 2023, and international consulting companies were also selected. Garibashvili called Azerbaijan a friend, strategic partner and neighbouring state, and expressed hope that negotiations would continue and the David Gareja issue would be resolved fairly.

At the end of the letter Garibashvili states that he served the army and the homeland with all his heart, while the political persecution and defamation against him are "an insult to our country, to the government itself and the ruling party".