UNM’s Khabeishvili claims former officials urging ex-PM Garibashvili to form political party for ‘protection’

Levan Khabeishvili, Chairman of the United National Movement’s political council, has claimed that former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and other former officials under the current Georgian Dream leadership facing possible prosecution have asked ex-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili to establish a new political party to offer them “political protection.”

In a social media post on Tuesday, Khabeishvili alleged that Burchuladze and Garibashvili recently held a private meeting, during which the idea of forming a party was raised.

“Burchuladze and other would-be detainees are asking Garibashvili to form a political party,” Khabeishvili wrote. “Their meeting wasn’t just about ‘who they were being asked to testify against,’ but rather, ‘start a party, Irakli, and protect us - at least give us some political cover.’”

Garibashvili served two terms as Prime Minister - from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2021 until his resignation on 29 January 2024. He stepped down to assume the role of Georgian Dream’s chairman, citing a need for political rotations ahead of the national elections. 

On 25 April 2025, Garibashvili formally announced he was retiring from politics completely, resigning as party chairman and pledging continued loyalty to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of the GD, while expressing no intent to seek further office. 

Burchuladze served as Defence Minister during Garibashvili’s second premiership (2021–2024). In late July 2025, Georgia’s anti-corruption authorities arrested several individuals close to him - including his deputy, the former head of the Defence Ministry’s procurement department, and a close relative - in connection with an alleged embezzlement scheme that cost the state about ₾1.3 million.