Ruling party official rebukes President for statement on former PM

In his remarks over the matter, Mdinaradze alleged Zourabichvili’s message showed she was “completely engaged in the talking points” of the opposition United National Movement party. Photo: Georgian Dream Press Office 

Agenda.ge, 17 Nov 2023 - 14:33, Tbilisi,Georgia

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday rebuked a remark by President Salome Zourabichvili, who on Thursday called Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party the “only oligarch” in the domestic politics. 

In his remarks over the matter, Mdinaradze alleged Zourabichvili’s message showed she was “completely engaged in the talking points” of the opposition United National Movement party. 

Bidzina Ivanishvili played one of the decisive roles in Zourabichvili becoming President. When Salome Zourabichvili  becomes completely engaged in the talking points of UNM, it only means that this is a malicious conversation against a person who played a decisive role in her presidency”, the party official said. 

Mdinaradze further claimed Zourabichvili’s “alignment with the opposition talking points” could “make one believe” she would have pardoned the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili “if not for other ongoing charges” against the former official. 

The ruling party official also warned if Zourabichvili ultimately decided to pardon Saakashvili, she would “become an accomplice of all the odious things that happened during those years [of UNM rule between 2003-2012]”.