Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has responded to concerns voiced by four U.S. senators over charges against former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
In a letter on August 11, Garibashvili said that looking into alleged wrongdoings of former officials is part of “efforts to end impunity.”
Garibashvili also pledged to work with anyone in Georgia who was "willing to be a constructive partner for the good of all people."
In an August 1 letter, U.S. Senators John McCain (Republican-Arizona), Marco Rubio (Republican-Florida), Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire), and James Risch (Republican-Idaho) said that the Georgian government’s “efforts to prosecute members of the former government in a way that seems more connected to politics than independent judicial decision-making” have been “troubling.”
Saakashvili, who led Georgia between 2004 and 2013, has been charged with abuse of office. He denies any wrongdoing.
He left Georgia late last year after his second term expired.
