Opposition leader Japaridze: rising prices in Georgia linked to government policy

An opposition figure, Zurab Japaridze, has said rising prices in Georgia were driven by government policy rather than external factors, outlining his position at a press conference held by an opposition alliance on Friday.

Japaridze said the aim of the briefing was to explain to the public what he described as the real causes of price increases and how they were connected to the authorities’ economic approach.

He rejected what he called “propaganda narratives”, including claims that inflation was primarily the result of global and regional challenges, as well as assertions that recent actions by a parliamentary commission and the State Security Service of Georgia have contributed to lowering prices.

According to Japaridze, there were measures that could be taken immediately to reduce prices, particularly for essential goods, alongside longer-term economic reforms.

He argued that current policies were aimed at maintaining political power and are contributing to rising costs, which he said were negatively affecting households.