PM Irakli Garibashvili met on Monday evening Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and lawmakers from the latter’s political party Free Democrats, which is part of the GD ruling coalition.

The case involving the arrest of several officials from MoD and general staff of the armed forces, which is fraught with possible rift within the ruling GD coalition, was the main issue of discussion at the meeting.

State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Alexi Petriashvili, who is also a member of the Free Democrats party, was also present.

“Free Democrats leader, Irakli Alasania, has presented additional arguments and the [GD] coalition leader [PM Garibashvili] will study those arguments,” Alexi Petriashvili said after the meeting.

Defense Minister Irakli Alasania reiterated earlier on November 3 that he’s “absolutely confident” that arrested MoD and general staff officials, who have been charged with misspending through alleged sham tender, are innocent.
 
MP Viktor Dolidze, who chairs parliamentary committee for European integration, said after the meeting that it was “open discussion.”

“I do not want to speak about political context – it would not be right; investigation is ongoing and all the questions will be answered… Arguments have been presented and the Prime Minister has pledged to thoroughly study them,” MP Dolidze said.