**Giorgi Gakharia Speaks Out: “I Didn’t Resign Because of Melia, Bidzina Ivanishvili Made Me Go to the Opposition”**
In a dramatic session of the temporary investigative commission, Giorgi Gakharia, the leader of the Gakharia for Georgia party and former Prime Minister of Georgia, made some shocking revelations. He denied that his resignation was due to the arrest of Nika Melia, a prominent opposition politician, and instead pointed fingers at Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire businessman who is widely seen as the de facto leader of the ruling party.
According to Gakharia, he had always believed that Melia should be arrested for throwing off his probation bracelet. He claimed that it was an act of defiance against the state and that the authorities had no choice but to take action. However, despite this stance, Gakharia maintained that he had not intended to resign as Prime Minister.
“I confirm that my position was that Melia was to be arrested,” Gakharia said. “I did what I did. In the morning, I went to work as usual, like every day. No idea at all, no resignation, nothing at all.”
When asked by the commission’s chairwoman, Tea Tsulukiani, if foreign ambassadors had advised him not to arrest Melia and go to the opposition instead, Gakharia responded that it was Ivanishvili who had “brought me to the opposition.” He claimed that Ivanishvili had violated all agreements and that this was the reason for his resignation.
“I’m telling you clearly, Bidzina Ivanishvili made me go to the opposition,” Gakharia said. “Now you decide whether you want to delve deeper into this topic or not.”
**What Does This Mean for Georgia‘s Politics?**
Gakharia’s revelations have sent shockwaves through Georgia’s political landscape. The former Prime Minister is essentially accusing Ivanishvili of pulling the strings from behind the scenes and forcing him out of office. This has significant implications for the ruling party, which had been trying to present a united front in the face of growing opposition pressure.
The fact that Gakharia felt compelled to speak out about Ivanishvili’s alleged interference suggests that there are deep divisions within the ruling party. These divisions may ultimately weaken the party and make it more vulnerable to opposition attacks.
**What’s Next?**
It remains to be seen how Georgia’s politics will evolve from here. The temporary investigative commission is likely to continue its inquiry into Gakharia’s resignation, but it’s unclear what concrete actions will come out of this process.
One thing is certain: the revelations made by Giorgi Gakharia have opened a Pandora’s box in Georgian politics. As the country approaches critical parliamentary elections next year, the ruling party will be facing increasing pressure to deliver results and maintain its grip on power. The drama unfolding around Gakharia’s resignation is only the beginning of what promises to be a tumultuous period for Georgia’s politicians.
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