Opposition UNM re-accuses Social Democracy leader of ties to ruling party contracts, Menabde responds

Tensions have continued in Georgian politics after Anna Tsitlidze, a leader of the opposition United National Movement, accused Vakhushti Menabde, head of the Social Democracy movement, and his family of involvement in contracts with the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Tsitlidze re-posted on social media on Thursday that Menabde’s family members were linked to projects funded by Georgian Dream ruling party, while questioning why Menabde’s mother had not publicly supported “prisoners of conscience” arrested during pro-European protests such as media manager Mzia Amaglobeli. She highlighted Menabde’s mother, Marine Topuria, who heads the Young Educators’ Association, saying she had received funding from both the European Union and the state budget, and frequently appeared in photos with Georgian Dream officials.

Menabde responded in a separate social media post, rejecting the allegations and stressing that the companies mentioned were not connected to his professional work. He said the claims regarding family involvement in tenders and projects were inaccurate and could be verified through official documentation.

“I have nothing to hide. The company in question has no connection to the work I do, and I act according to my principles,” Menabde wrote. He also refuted claims that his family’s company won tenders outside their region or engaged in extraction of inert materials from rivers, providing screenshots from official procurement registers as evidence.