Otar Partskhaladze: The sanction imposed against me is inspired by specific people and is the culmination of a ten-year discrediting campaign

The sanction imposed against me is inspired by specific people and is the culmination of a ten-year discrediting campaign, former chief prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze says in a letter sent to Rustavi 2, where he responds to the imposition of sanctions by the US Department of State.

According to Otar Partskhaladze, he will use all legal opportunities to prove that the decision to impose unfair sanctions against him is based on a slanderous campaign.

"Georgian society knows very well that for 10 years, I have not held a position in the public service, I have no connection with state institutions! Nevertheless, the National Movement and its propagandist media have not stopped throwing mud against me and purposeful discrediting attempts during all this time.

Let me remind you that in the process of fighting against slander and the spread of lies against me, I won the court three times. Nevertheless, these people did not refuse to stop their dirty campaign against me, even though they could not present a single fact to support the fabricated accusations they were spreading.

That is why I believe that the sanction imposed against me is inspired by specific people and is the culmination of this ten-year discrediting campaign. On the other hand, the reactions of subjects with specific political interests at the local level convinced me that there are active attempts to link my name with state institutions or authorities, which, I emphasize once again, has no basis, and what the said efforts serve, I am sure, the Georgian public understands best.

Anyone who read the statement of the US Department clearly saw that the mentioned decision was made only based on assumptions”, reads the letter.

The US Department of State designated former chief prosecutor of Georgia Otar Partskhaladze. According to the Department of State, Partskhaladze was designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the management consulting sector of the Russian Federation economy. Partskhaladze is a Georgian-Russian oligarch.

“FSB Aleksandr Officer Onishchenko likely assisted his associate Partskhaladze in obtaining a Russian passport and possibly Russian citizenship. Partskhaladze has fully taken on a Russian identity and routinely travels to Russia. Onishchenko and the FSB have leveraged Partskhaladze to influence Georgian society and politics for the benefit of Russia. Partskhaladze has reportedly personally profited from his FSB connection”, US Department of Statem said.