Ex-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, currently serving a five-year sentence in a money laundering case, hinted at pressure to confess — or “take blame” — in a new corruption case, citing a letter sent to him “on Ivanishvili’s instruction.”
The post, published on Garibashvili’s Facebook page on August 17, includes a photo of a printed, unsigned letter, which Garibashvili says was sent to him “on Ivanishvili’s instruction” and which warns of forthcoming corruption charges. The anticipated charges, according to the letter, come as part of “several cases” that allegedly follow the actions of insincere “supporters” such as Irma Inashvili and Dito Chubinidze, two conservative figures, and social media campaigns.
“‘Supporters’ like Irma Inashvili and Dito Chubinidze and the campaigns organized on social media have sown serious suspicions and greatly damaged us,” the letter, with the author unknown, reads. “Very intensive work is underway on several cases, whose likely results will be corruption charges.”
The letter then presents the former official with two alternative courses of action: either fully contest the upcoming allegations through the court proceedings, or accept what it describes as “a compromise solution” that “they” (without naming who) had “themselves offered”: to confess or “take blame” in one of the cases and receive another five-year sentence through a new plea deal.
In that case, the letter says that, as “they explain,” the new five-year sentence would be absorbed into the first, similar sentence that Garibashvili is already serving, and which was also imposed as part of a plea deal.
The second option also entails “not getting anywhere near politics” following his release from prison, with the confession apparently intended to serve as a sort of guarantee that Garibashvili would not return to politics.
Commenting on the alleged letter, Garibashvili writes on Facebook: “I tried and did everything not to make this move; unfortunately, I wasn’t left any other choice but to resist this degrading evil! This ruthless cruelty, oppression/injustice, a dirty plan to destroy me and my family!”
Ex-PM then pledges to publish a “lengthy letter” the next day where he will tell the public his “truth,” adding that starting today, “Bidzina Ivanishvili and the entire government bear full responsibility for my safety and the safety of my family.”
The identical post with a photo of a letter was also shared by Garibashvili’s wife, Nunuka Tamazashvili, on Facebook.
Garibashvili, who served as Georgian prime minister twice, from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2024, was one of the closest aides to Georgian Dream founder and current Honorary Chairman, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. Irakli Kobakhidze succeeded him as prime minister in February 2024. Garibashvili, who then served as GD chairman, left the party and politics in April 2025.
Garibashvili was charged with money laundering in October 2025, in a case that came amid a series of prosecutions and a declared anti-corruption drive by Georgian Dream targeting former officials and business associates linked to the ruling party. Officials said to have seized over USD 7 million in cash and valuables from dozens of homes belonging to former officials, including Garibashvili.
In January, prosecutors announced that Garibashvili would serve five years in prison following a plea deal. He was also fined GEL 1 million (about USD 270,000), while money seized from his home that authorities said was illegally obtained would be confiscated.
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