Kobakhidze Blames Former Georgian Dream Associates for Spreading Rumors of Internal Rift
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, July 17, 2025
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused individuals suspected of corruption and ousted from Georgian Dream of financing a campaign to spread rumors about internal divisions within the ruling party. Speaking to journalists on July 14, Kobakhidze claimed the campaign is being carried out through intermediaries and targeted media figures.
"There are concrete individuals funded by concrete persons who were suspected of corruption and had to leave the team," the prime minister said, without naming the individuals or clarifying whether they were former government officials or party members.
He alleged that opposition politician Levan Khabeishvili and TV Pirveli anchor Nodar Meladze are among those receiving money to circulate information passed on by these unnamed individuals.
"According to my information, which is not so unreliable, he [Khabeishvili] was on a monthly wage. He even had a nickname in the salary description. The same source also funds Nodar Meladze, who receives directives from this group suspected of corruption to spread this information," Kobakhidze said.
Khabeishvili, a former chair of the United National Movement, has recently made headlines for statements about financial pressure allegedly facing current and former Georgian Dream officials. His claims gained new attention following the near-fatal shooting of Tornike Rizhvadze, the former head of the Adjara government, on July 7. Authorities have said the incident was a suicide attempt.
Weeks before the shooting, Khabeishvili alleged that Rizhvadze was under pressure to return over USD 300,000 to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of Georgian Dream. He also named other officials as allegedly facing similar demands, including former State Security Service head Grigol Liluashvili, who resigned in April; former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who also left politics in April; and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze.
Khabeishvili's comments have been widely circulated by opposition-leaning media, particularly TV Pirveli, where Nodar Meladze hosts an investigative program.
"There are people suspected of corruption, and they try to overshadow the accusations that may exist against them with PR maneuvers. For this, they easily distribute money to Khabeishvili, Meladze, and others," Kobakhidze said.
