Billionaire-turned-politician, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has strongly denied having or planning talks with ex-defender minister and co-founder of the Georgian Party, Irakli Okruashvili.

Political secretary of the Georgian Party, Erosi Kitsmarishvili, has claimed Ivanishvili was “in talks” with Okruashvili, who is wanted in Georgia and has an asylum in France.

“Bidzina Ivanishvili’s press office strongly denies it; there are no talks with representatives of the Georgian Party, especially with Irakli Okruashvili and no [talks] are planned,” a short statement by Ivanishvili’s press office reads.