The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has formally indicted former Deputy Head of the Revenue Service, Vladimer Khundadze, in absentia, on charges of abuse of official authority.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, they will apply to the court within the legally prescribed timeframe, seeking the imposition of imprisonment as a preventive measure against the accused.

“The investigation conducted by the Ministry of Finance’s Investigative Service revealed that Vladimer Khundadze had a personal relationship with Boris Gogichaishvili, who, along with accomplices, engaged in the illegal manufacturing and storage of alcoholic beverages, specifically whiskey and vodka, using foreign brands in the city of Gori.

To facilitate the smooth import of various products essential for the production of alcoholic beverages into Georgia, Boris Gogichaishvili sought assistance from Vladimer Khundadze, whose official responsibilities included overseeing customs procedures.

Throughout the process, Khundadze was consistently given instructions by Gogichaishvili regarding the optimal timing for importing and clearing customs for these products, as well as details about the contents to ensure they would not raise suspicion during customs inspections.

Consequently, in the first half of 2025, Gogichaishvili was able to import into Georgia, without obstruction, the necessary materials for illegal alcohol production, such as glass bottles with specialised packaging, labels, and stoppers.

Furthermore, Khundadze was fully aware of the criminal activities being carried out by Gogichaishvili and his associates. Despite this knowledge, he failed to take appropriate official action or notify other relevant authorities about these serious crimes.

Vladimer Khundadze has been charged in absentia with abuse of official power. The Prosecutor’s Office also recalls that investigators discovered more than 75,000 bottles of illegally produced alcohol bearing various foreign trademarks in a specially arranged facility in Gori on September 16, 2025. The value of these beverages exceeds several million GEL. The Prosecutor’s Office has already initiated criminal proceedings against seven individuals in connection with this matter,” the statement from the Prosecutor’s Office reads.