Without stepping foot inside the country, wealthy presidential candidate Badri Patarkatsishvili is still casting a long shadow over the election campaign. His name came front and center in a mudslinging match between the government and the leading opposition coalition this weekend, after it stated it may accept funding from the business mogul.

The government labeled Patarkatsishvili’s fortune “dirty money” after Levan Gachechiladze, the presidential candidate of the United National Council opposition coalition, said on December 6 that his campaign would accept financial support if Patarkatsishvili offered it.

Parliamentary Defense and Security Committee chair Givi Targamadze accused the opposition of organizing a “clandestine deal” in which Patarkatsishvili would provide financial backing in exchange for being appointed prime minister if the coalition wins the election.

The opposition hit back, with Equality Institute leader Goga Khaindrava stating that the “former [and incumbent] president Mikheil Saakashvili repaired and constructed plenty of state assets with Patarkatsishvili’s sponsorship.”

He pointed to a number of projects funded by Patarkatsishvili, such as renovation work on the Ilia Chavchavadze museum, that the government welcomed at the time.

“Only now does Targamadze claim this was dirty money and blood money,” Khaindrava said.

Republican Party chair Davit Usupashvili, with Conservative leaders Kakha Kukava and Zviad Dzidziguri, all of whom are members of the opposition coalition, met Patarkatsishvili in London on Friday. Dzidziguri said that the possibility of receiving funding from the businessman was discussed during the meeting, but did not go into details.

On December 7, Davit Zurabishvili of the United National Council told journalists the coalition would only accept money from the tycoon if he pulled out of the presidential race.

“If Patarkatsishvili decides to remove his candidature then the United National Council will discuss the issue of receiving financing from him,” he reportedly said.