PM Kobakhidze: Plea bargain reduces sentence, not guilt; cooperation offers grounds for mitigation, not exoneration

“Cooperation in a specific case and concluding a plea bargain provide grounds for sentence mitigation, not for clearing or neutralising criminal guilt in any form,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said.

The head of government made the statement in response to a journalist’s question regarding the plea agreement concluded in the case of former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze.

“Such is the very nature of a plea bargain; when a plea agreement is struck, it does not mean the guilt is diminished. Guilt remains guilt. Cooperation in a specific case and entering into a plea deal provide legal grounds to mitigate the sentence, not to absolve or neutralise guilt, but for reducing the length of the sentence. That is precisely the essence of a plea bargain,” Kobakhidze noted.

For context, a plea agreement was finalised in the Court of Appeals for former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, his brother-in-law Vasil Mkheidze, and Burchuladze’s former deputy Giorgi Khaindrava. Under the terms of the agreement, Vasil Mkheidze and Giorgi Khaindrava will be released from custody at the end of September, while Juansher Burchuladze is set to be released in two years.