Court approves plea bargain for Romeo Mikautadze: sentenced to three years in prison and a two-year suspended term

Romeo Mikautadze, a former First Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development convicted of abuse of office, illegal participation in business, exceeding official powers and money laundering involving a particularly large amount of illegal and unjustified income, admitted the crimes, cooperated with the investigation, expressed remorse and paid compensation. He then asked the Prosecutor’s Office for a plea agreement.

Given his admission of guilt, financial restitution, and cooperation, the Prosecutor’s Office asked the Tbilisi Court of Appeals to deliver a verdict without a full trial.

The court approved the plea agreement between the parties. The deal saw Mikautadze convicted on three counts of abuse of office and four counts of illegal business activity under the Criminal Code. He was also found guilty of exceeding official powers (Article 333(1)) and of money laundering involving a particularly large amount of illegal or unjustified income (Article 194(3)©).

Under the plea agreement, Romeo Mikautadze was handed a three-year custodial sentence and a two-year suspended sentence. He was further ordered to pay a statutory fine of GEL 1,000,000 and disqualified from occupying appointive positions in public service for three years.

In addition, the court ordered the asset recovery and confiscation of the following properties to the state: an apartment in Madrid, Spain (valued at GEL 1,882,168); a country house in Tserovani, Mtskheta (GEL 372,720); a 15% share in Nakhiduri HPP LLC (GEL 1,577,306); three luxury vehicles—a Mercedes-Benz G 63 AMG, Land Rover Range Rover, and Lexus ES 250—worth a combined GEL 960,000; alongside four luxury watches, gold bars, and coins valued collectively at over GEL 749,000.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, Mikautadze also fully compensated Tbiliservice Group LLC, paying GEL 114,658.08 in respect of damages incurred.