When I personally and other government representatives uncompromisingly confronted corruption, we were also ready for the fact that such accusations - and maybe even worse - have been, are, and will be. The Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Regional Development of Georgia said this while answering the question of the journalist regarding Irakli Garibashvili’s letters.

“Let’s not talk about his goals, I will refrain from doing so. The man is currently in prison. I think that from my position, it would not be entirely right to go on the attack.

However, I can tell you one thing with absolute sincerity - when I personally and other government representatives uncompromisingly confronted corruption, we were also ready for the fact that such accusations, and maybe even worse, have been, are, and will be. If you, as a government representative, are not ready for this, then you can neither declare war on corruption nor ensure rapid management on your part. I would like to take this opportunity to also talk about the problems carried over from previous years, which were the result of corruption crimes and which we have today as a sad legacy.

No matter how many regions I visited, I found several projects everywhere - a bridge in some places, a road in others, and water or gasification issues in some areas - which remain unfinished to this day or were poorly executed due to a few individual contractors.

I want to warn everyone: those individuals who are trying to gain more material benefit at the expense of poor quality, delays, and creating problems should not take advantage of our humaneness, and must complete the projects started in the regions on time and with high quality”, - said Mamuka Mdinaradze.

On August 17 and 18, Irakli Garibashvili released two contradictory letters. On August 17, he stated that he had received a letter from Bidzina Ivanishvili, while the following day, he spoke about Mamuka Mdinaradze. Despite the fact that millions in cash and luxury items were seized from his apartment during a search, the former Prime Minister claims he is innocent.

The investigative agency charged him with legalization of illicit income (money laundering). Garibashvili pleaded guilty and entered into a plea agreement, under which he was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment.