Little Political Fall-out from Patarkatsishvili’s Death – Pundit

Tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili’s death will have little political fall-out, Ia Antadze, a political commentator and journalist, has suggested.

She did, however, say that if foul play is suspected there may be political consequences.

“If it is confirmed that there was no foul play, then nothing will change on the Georgian political landscape,” she told Civil.Ge on February 13. “He [Patarkatsishvili] did not manage in time to establish himself in Georgian politics to the extent that his departure woud have any major consequences. He also did not manage in time to establish a strong political party and, especially since the closure of Imedi TV, he had actually been out of the game.”

Meanwhile, a lawmaker from the ruling party, Nazi Aronia, told the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) on February 13 that Patarkatsishvili’s death would be “a serious loss for the united opposition,” especially from a financial point of view.

The authorities have long alleged that the opposition was linked to Patarkatsishvili, with the media tycoon bankrolling them.

The nine-party opposition coalition, however, has always vehemently denied accepting any money from Patarkatsishvili. In particular, it tried to distance itself from Patarkatsishvili after the authorities released compromising video and audio tapes implicating him and his allies in an alleged coup plot.

Some politicians from Our Georgia Party, which was set up by Patarkatsishvili supporters, have, meanwhile, said they suspect foul play in Patarkatsishvili’s death. “It was murder,” Davit Shukakidze of Our Georgia Party said. “An investigation is on [in Britain] and everything will become clear.” MP Gogi Tsulaia said: “I blame authorities for that [Patarkatsishvili’s death].” Other party members were more reserved. “It is said that heart failure was the cause of death, but he had been feeling very well as far as I know,” Nona Gaprindashvili told journalists.

“I am not in a position to speak about the cause of death,” MP Davit Gamkrelidze, the leader of the New Rights Party, said. “Georgia has lost a very good patriot.”

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