**Georgia in Crisis: Former Minister’s Aide Detained Amid Clan Conflict**
The arrest of Juansher Burchuladze, a close aide to former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, has sparked tensions within the ruling Georgian Dream party. Aleko Elisashvili, a leader of the opposition coalition Lelo – Strong Georgia, believes that this is more than just an attack on Burchuladze, but rather a sign of internal conflict within Gharibashvili’s entourage.
According to Elisashvilli, “This is an internal clan conflict and they want to arrest Gharibashvili’s clan.” He claims that the recent arrests are not related to corruption or embezzlement at the Ministry of Defense, but rather a result of the party’s internal struggles. With the European Union expressing strict criticism of Georgia’s democratic backsliding and the US administration refusing to engage with the government, Georgian Dream is indeed in crisis.
The State Security Service has detained former Deputy Minister of Defense Giorgi Khaindrava, Vladimer Ghudushauri, the Head of Procurement at the Ministry of Defense, and Vladimer Mkheidze, a close relative of the then-Minister of Defense. The agency claims that an investigation revealed a plan to embezzle 1.3 million GEL from the state budget, but Elisashvilli disputes this narrative, saying it’s just a smokescreen for the internal power struggle.
The conflict within Georgian Dream has left many wondering what lies ahead for the country. As tensions rise and party members turn on each other, one thing is clear: Georgia’s fragile political landscape is about to become even more unstable.
