Natia Tatiashvili, the prosecutor in the case of former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, stated that Garibashvili confessed to the crime during the trial, forming the basis for a plea agreement.

“Irakli Garibashvili agreed to the proposed conditions, after which a plea agreement was signed. Testimonies from a number of witnesses were presented in the case, although we cannot disclose specific names,” Tatiashvili said.

Under the plea agreement, Garibashvili was found guilty of a crime under Article 194, Part Three, Subparagraph “c” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns the legalization of illegal income involving a particularly large amount.

“As a result, we filed a motion requesting the court to issue a verdict without examining the merits of the case. The court found Garibashvili guilty of the charges and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment. He was also deprived of property obtained through criminal activity and fined one million GEL as an additional penalty,” Tatiashvili added.

She noted that the deadline for payment of the fine has not yet been set and that the process is being monitored by the National Bureau of Enforcement. When asked about the possible confiscation of the factory, the prosecutor said this was not being considered.

For reference, the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has signed a plea agreement with former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, under which he was sentenced to five years in prison and fined one million GEL.

Additionally, on October 24, the Tbilisi City Court imposed a bail of one million lari on Georgia’s former Prime Minister as a preventive measure in the case concerning the laundering of particularly large sums of illegal proceeds. Garibashvili has been charged under Article 194, Part 3, Subparagraph “c” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which covers the legalisation of illegal proceeds accompanied by the receipt of income in an especially large amount.