Georgian police raid homes of former officials including ex-prime minister

Georgian Police Crack Down on Former Officials' Homes in Ongoing Crackdown Against Opposition.

Tbilisi, Georgia - Authorities in Georgia have carried out raids on the homes of three former senior officials, including a two-time former prime minister and an ex-prosecutor general, as part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures accused of trying to overthrow the government.

The Georgian prosecutor general's office confirmed that law enforcement agencies simultaneously raided 22 locations at the homes of Irakli Garibashvili, Grigol Liluashvili, and Otar Partskhaladze. The raids resulted in the seizure of large amounts of cash, documents, and electronic devices.

Garibashvili, who was a key figure behind Tbilisi's anti-Western turn since the full-scale war in Ukraine, has been accused by some of undermining Georgia's pro-EU aspirations. Liluashvili, on the other hand, served as the head of internal security, while Partskhaladze is a dual Georgian-Russian citizen who was recently sanctioned by the UK for ties to Moscow.

These raids come amid a month-long crackdown on opposition figures in Georgia. Since last October, when Georgian Dream claimed victory in parliamentary elections that the opposition decried as stolen, the country has been mired in political crisis. Authorities have jailed prominent pro-EU figures and targeted people close to the governing party, marking a significant shift in their tactics.

The move appears to be part of several ongoing investigations into alleged offenses by former officials close to Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has been accused of democratic backsliding.

ugh another country gonna crackdown on opposition its like they think they can just silence ppl who dont agree with em these 3 dudes were former officials so i guess thats what happens when you dont play by the rules cash seized documents electronic devices stolen... meanwhile bidzina ivanishvili is still out there makin moves doesnt matter if its democratically legit or not the fact remains ppl r gettin hurt

Ugh man this is some crazy stuff going down in Georgia... I mean I'm all for rooting out corruption and whatnot, but it seems like they're just targeting anyone who disagrees with them or had a beef with Bidzina Ivanishvili, you know? Like, what's the deal with these raids on former officials' homes? It's like they're trying to silence dissent or something... And now I'm seeing reports of seizures, cash and documents everywhere... it sounds like a full-on witch hunt . I just hope this crackdown doesn't lead to some serious human rights abuses or anything . We need more transparency and accountability in government, not less...

This is getting really concerning... like, what's next? They're not just targeting Bidzina Ivanishvili's associates, but entire families... I mean, I get it, politics can get ugly, but 22 raids at once? That's just too much! It feels like they're trying to silence anyone who's against them. Reminds me of that scene from The Bourne Supremacy where Jason Bourne is being hunted by the CIA... "You have no idea what we can do" I'm not sure if this is a case of politics going too far or just a normal struggle for power, but either way, it's got everyone in Georgia on edge.

what's going on with this crackdown? like i was following some of these guys online and they seemed pretty chill but now their homes are getting raided? it's all a bit suspicious... does anyone know if garibashvili is still out or is he being held somewhere? also, why did they target liluashvili? he seems like the only one of the three who wasn't super outspoken about anything. and what's up with partskhaladze's dual citizenship?

this is soooo not what we need right now - more crackdowns and less freedom... 22 homes raided, think about all those families who lost everything & what's next? Are they gonna come after us too? i just want to live my life without the fear of being targeted for speaking out or disagreeing with the government... can't we just have peaceful protests and open dialogue instead of this authoritarian nonsense?

Ugh, can't believe what's happening over in Georgia . I mean, I get it, politics is never easy, but targeting people just because they're opposition figures? That's not cool, man . I've got friends who live there and it's getting really scary for them. The thought of the police raiding these guys' homes, seizing their cash and documents... it's like something out of a bad thriller movie .

I'm not surprised that some people are accusing Garibashvili of undermining Georgia's pro-EU aspirations though. He was pretty vocal about opposing Western influence in his country after Ukraine got involved, and that can be a real divisive issue . But still, I feel like the government is being super heavy-handed here. It's like they're trying to silence dissenting voices rather than having a constructive conversation .

I hope these guys are able to get through this tough spot without too much trouble . It's not right that people should have to live in fear because of their politics .

I'm telling you, this whole thing is getting really out of hand... like, how many times do we have to see politicians targeting their own opponents? In my opinion, it's just a slippery slope where they start taking away people's rights and freedoms... 22 raids on homes? That's insane! And what's with the allegations against Garibashvili? I mean, he was in favor of EU ties before, but now it seems like they're just trying to paint him as a traitor or something. It's all getting really muddy and confusing... does anyone know how long these investigations are going to keep going? Can't we just have some free and fair elections for once?!

I'm worried about this whole situation in Georgia... it seems like they're targeting people with a grudge against the government . Three former officials getting raided at their homes? That's quite a big deal! But, on the other hand, these guys were part of some shady stuff too . Like, Liluashvili was head of internal security and Partskhaladze has ties to Russia . It's hard to say who's the real villain here . One thing is for sure though: this crackdown on opposition figures isn't helping Georgia's democracy . We need to make sure everyone is treated fairly, no matter what side of the politics they're on .

[Image of Grumpy Cat with a "stuck in Georgia" sign]

man whats going on with georgia rn? i read this article about police raiding ex gov officials and it's like they're trying to silence opposition voices https://www.reuters.com/world/europ...oney-documents-electronic-devices-2023-11-01/ anyway, it seems like they're cracking down hard on ppl who are anti-western or pro-eu... i dont get why cant they just have a peaceful opposition? https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64444133

I'm getting really worried about what's happening in Georgia these raids on people's homes just because they're opposition figures? it's like, come on, can't we have a civilized conversation without this kind of thing? I mean, I get that there are some serious issues with corruption and all, but is it really necessary to crack down so hard? I'm worried about the free speech in Georgia right now. people need to be able to express their opinions without fear of persecution I hope these raids don't escalate into something more...

just watched this news and I'm getting really worried about Georgia... it's like they're going after anyone who doesn't agree with the gov 3 people raided at their homes over nothing, what's next? all this just to silence opposition and quash dissent. that's not democracy, my friend

just saw that those 3 former officials got raided in their homes & they took a lot of cash and electronics... like, isn't this gonna fuel more opposition? stats show that since the crackdown started, protests have increased by 300% and online engagement has gone up by 500%

according to data from the Georgia Transparency Institute, since October last year, there's been a 40% increase in corruption convictions but also a significant decline in EU funding for Georgia it's like they're using the crackdown as a way to consolidate power

I'm not saying it's definitely related, but have you seen the latest polls? opposition support is up to 60% which is crazy considering it was around 30% last year maybe this crackdown will actually work in their favor? only time will tell

OMG you guys! Georgia is having a major drama fest right now and I am LIVING for it!!! The police just raided the homes of 3 former top officials and I'm low-key hoping they found some incriminating evidence to finally take down Bidzina Ivanishvili's party. I mean, can't these guys just admit to all the shady dealings already? It's like they're trying to sweep everything under the rug and it's giving me LIFE! The fact that they're targeting pro-EU figures is just another level of drama - what even is going on in Georgia?! I'm here. for. it.

Ugh, this is what happens when you're in power for too long... Like, can't a guy just enjoy his two-time prime minister spot without getting raided and having all his cash seized? I mean, I get it, the government wants to send a message to opposition figures, but now they've got a whole string of former officials' homes under siege. It's like they're trying to make them regret their lives choices or something... Either way, this is just another example of how Georgia's been going downhill since those parliamentary elections last October. And let's be real, Bidzina Ivanishvili's influence on the party must be getting a little too much to handle, so they're cracking down on his buddies...

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Acton (can't help but think of this saying every time there's a move like this in a country) ... Authorities cracking down on opposition figures is never a good sign

this is so messed up ... they're basically using the law as an excuse to silence their opponents . anyone who's against the gov can be targeted and raided without any due process . it's like they're trying to create a climate of fear in the country . i mean, what's next? them raiding homes of journalists or activists too?

Man, this is getting crazy ! The whole situation in Georgia is super tense right now. I mean, it's one thing to crack down on opposition figures, but raiding their homes and taking all that cash? That's just not right . It feels like they're trying to silence anyone who speaks out against the government.

I'm worried about Irakli Garibashvili, he's a key figure in Georgia's politics and now his own home is being searched. What if they're just looking for an excuse to arrest him? It's not fair to the people of Georgia who are already living under this uncertainty.

The fact that they're targeting people with dual citizenship too, like Otar Partskhaladze... it raises so many questions. Is this really about fighting corruption or is it just about silencing dissent?

Ugh man... thinkin' about this thing is just so deep . You got these powerful people in Georgia, and they're just sweepin' their old crew outta the picture like they never even existed. And it's not just about the power struggle – it's about the fear of change, you know? The fact that they're crackin' down on opposition figures is a sign that they're tryin' to maintain control over the narrative.

But what's really scary is when you think about the people who are gettin' targeted. These former officials aren't just any ordinary folks – they've made sacrifices for their country, and now they're bein' silenced. It's like, what does that say about our society? Are we just okay with throwin' people away if they don't fit into our idea of how things should work?

And I'm thinkin', is this really a crack down on corruption or is it just a way to take out the competition? We're seein' more and more politicians gettin' involved in these investigations, but what about when it's their own party members who are doin' the dirty work? It's like, we can't even trust ourselves anymore.