“A weakened Ivanishvili, who is under sanctions, lacks financial resources, and is on the verge of a popular uprising, simply could not withstand a conflict with the criminal underworld. Therefore, at any cost, he must settle matters with Merab Jangveladze and is preparing to sacrifice Fartskhaladze,” writes Tina Bokuchava, Chairperson of the United National Movement, on social media.
According to her, after the murder of Levan Jangveladze, his brother Merab Jangveladze forced Bidzina Ivanishvili to remove then-Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri and head of the State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili because they failed to ensure Levan Jangveladze’s safety.
“One of the main elements of Ivanishvili’s ‘Russian-Georgian Dream’ is his intertwined interests with the so-called criminal underworld. Balancing the clan-based influences of the criminal world is a hallmark of Putinism and Putinist regimes’ governance style, where the foundation of power is not the people or democratic institutions endowed with public trust.
What’s happening in ‘Georgian Dream’s’ Georgia now: After Levan Jangveladze was killed on Chavchavadze Avenue, his brother Merab Jangveladze, who is known as a ‘thief-in-law’ and currently resides in Italy, forced Ivanishvili to remove Gomelauri and Liluashvili—valuable and trusted figures for Bidzina—who failed to ensure Jangveladze’s safety in Georgia as promised. Both the deceased’s family and Bidzina Ivanishvili knew that Fartskhaladze was the one who ordered the killing to settle scores stemming from Russia.
However, the deceased’s brother did not consider the removal of two high-ranking officials sufficient and demanded the head of the orchestrator from Ivanishvili.
I have never had any contact with the criminal underworld. Accordingly, I am not familiar with that world, their ‘understandings,’ or their rules. But by all standards of justice, it is entirely understandable that Levan Jangveladze’s family demands the punishment of all those responsible, including not only the perpetrators but also the mastermind.
And so, we’ve come to Mikadze, and now, as it turns out, to Fartskhaladze, who, according to available information, was living in Moscow under a Russian surname and ordered Jangveladze’s murder from there. If Ivanishvili can get to Fartskhaladze (and I suspect he can), Merab Jangveladze will consider the score settled.
What’s even more important is that this confirms Putin’s interest in preserving Ivanishvili’s power in Georgia at any cost.
Everyone understands that taking Fartskhaladze to Moscow without the regime’s consent is completely impossible. If anyone understands the consequences of meddling with the criminal underworld’s relationships, it’s Putin.
A weakened Ivanishvili, who is under sanctions, short on financial resources, and on the brink of a popular uprising, simply could not withstand a clash with the criminal underworld. Therefore, at any cost, he must settle with Merab Jangveladze and is preparing to sacrifice Fartskhaladze.
Let’s see how this criminal saga ends, but the fact is that Ivanishvili is extremely vulnerable. The regime has never been this weak. For me, this is the main conclusion and the impetus for action,” writes Tina Bokuchava.
Tina Bokuchava: A weakened Ivanishvili, who is under sanctions, lacks financial resources, and is on the verge of a popular uprising, simply could not withstand a conflict with the criminal underworld; Therefore, at any cost, he must settle matters with Merab Jangveladze and is preparing to sacrifice Fartskhaladze
