Roman Gotsiridze: Kobakhidze admits ₾700mln misused in state enterprises over past year

Opposition politician Roman Gotsiridze on Monday accused the ruling party of plundering state resources, following what he said was an admission by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze that ₾700 million ($259.32mln) was misused in state enterprises over the past year.

“Whether his motive was to discredit [former] Prime Minister Garibashvili or to present his own work in a positive light, one fact is clear: the ruling Georgian Dream clan has exposed the plundering of the country. This is a ready document for prosecuting those responsible after the Government changes,” Gotsiridze said.

He further criticised the ruling party’s economic record: “Georgian Dream is looting the country. There is a rhetorical question here — if there is economic growth, why do not people feel it? Why is the country being emptied? Why is income not increasing? Inflation has already reached five percent, and food prices have risen by 10 percent, on which our citizens spend 70–80 percent of their income,” Gotsiridze stated.