PM Irakli Garibashvili has declined to comment a statement by the U.S. Department of State in which it said on September 12 that it is “concerned by the continued investigations and criminal charges against opposition figures and the risks that politicized prosecutions would pose for Georgia’s democracy.”

“We have already made statements over this [issue] and I do not think that I should clarify it once again,” he told journalists in the village of Abano in Shida Kartli region, where he opened a newly built public school.

He was also asked how he sees future relations with the presidency following a recent conflict between the government and President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

“I have no problem with anyone whatsoever and I do not go into competition with anyone at all,” PM Garibashvili responded. “I do not need any additional powers from anyone and I do not need any additional functions from anyone either. We are working on building of new schools, we are working on improving economy, we are working on development of agriculture – that’s what we are thing about round the clock.”