Lelo nominates TBC Bank co-founder Khazaradze facing embezzlement charges for premiership

Political party Lelo has nominated Mamuka Khazaradze, the co-founder of Georgia's TBC Bank, for the premiership earlier today in the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections to be held on October 31. 

• TBC Bank founders, ex-Parliament Speaker Usupashvili in top 3 of Lelo party list

Khazaradze, along with co-founder Badri Japariadze, is on 700,000 GEL bail for allegedly laundering 16.7 million USD in a case that stretches back more than a decade. 

• TI Georgia:‘no basis to prove TBC Bank founders committed money laundering’

We offer the European style patriot Mamuka Khazaradze for the premiership to the Georgian people, “ said one of the leaders of Lelo, former Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili. 

Khazaradze said that Georgia needs a new force to carry out reforms.

Our major goal is to defeat poverty, unemployment and unprofessionalism in Georgia,” said Khazaradze. 

Khazaradze entered politics following charges brought against him in a money laundering case, initially founding the civil movement Lelo back in 2019. 

Khazaradze founded Lelo movement back in 2019. Photo: Lelo for Georgia press offfice.

Lelo’s election plan includes: 

• The creation of 200,000 jobs and a strong middle class, with 600,000 citizens at least receiving more than 3,000 GEL in monthly income
• Strengthening of farmers and the complete usage of agricultural lands 
• Ensuring state care for each elderly individual living alone
• Guaranteed first job for the young population and funding the first accommodation for young families
• More powerful and independent women
• State health insurance for all families in the country with the involvement of private insurance companies 

Most recent polls show Lelo may take 1-3 per cent of votes in the elections.