President’s Adviser denies allegations by ex-PM

Vano Matchavariani, President Giorgi Margvelashvili's Foreign Policy Adviser; Photo by IPN

Agenda.ge, 19 Mar 2014 - 14:31, Tbilisi,Georgia

The Georgian President’s Foreign Policy Adviser has responded to allegations made by ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, saying his comments were "not even close to the truth”.

Vano Matchavariani said it was "very regrettable that Bidzina Ivanishvili was provided with distorted information,” which he spoke of during his interview with Imedi TV.

In last night’s interview Ivanishvili, the founder of the current ruling Georgian Dream party, criticized President Giorgi Margvelashvili for his close relations with Matchavariani.

Matchavariani is the brother of former ruling United National Movement (UNM) party lawmaker Mikheil Matchavariani.

"He now is Margvelashvili's favorite while his brother Mikheil Matchavariani was the ex-President's favorite," Ivanishvili said, adding this was not a tragedy but it was still "unpleasant”.

Ivanishvili said he disliked Matchavariani for his "improper” actions in the past.

He claimed Matchavariani joined his team to "anger” the then ruling UNM party and to gain a well-paid job in exchange for not being with the Georgian Dream party.

Ivanishvili said after he entered politics in late 2011, Margvelashvili introduced his friend Vano Matchavariani to the team but the latter quit shortly after and took a high paying job at the state-owned Partnership Fund.

Ivanishvili said he argued "a number of times” with Margvelashvili over this issue.

"I do not want to dramatize it but it remains unpleasant,” he said.

In response, Matchavariani said Ivanishvili was aware he was the UNM leader’s brother and the fact he had previously worked for the Partnership Fund but this was all okay for Ivanishvili at that time.

Machavariani blamed the current situation on "miscommunication” and said someone had taken advantage of the situation and provided Ivanishvili with "distorted information”.

"I believe this misunderstanding will soon clear up and whoever hopes that they will gain points before Ivanishvili, will find themselves disappointed,” the President’s Adviser said.