A hearing took place at Tbilisi City Court in the case against former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, along with co-defendants: former Deputy Defence Minister Giorgi Khaindrava, former head of the Defence Ministry’s procurement department Vladimer Ghudushauri, and Burchuladze’s brother-in-law Vasil Mkheidze.

The prosecution has refused to enter into a plea agreement with Burchuladze, Khaindrava, and Mkheidze, and is seeking a guilty verdict against all three. Ghudushauri alone will be offered a plea deal.

Burchuladze’s defence counsel, Khatuna Khurtsilava, expressed confidence that the parties would reach a plea agreement before the next hearing, emphasising that the prosecution’s stance as presented today should not be regarded as its final position.

“Negotiations are ongoing, and we expect to receive a response by April 16. This is not a definitive refusal. The prosecution is seeking a guilty verdict, but that does not mean a plea agreement cannot be concluded before April 16. If necessary, we are prepared to meet the conditions, including compensation for damages,” Khurtsilava explained.

Prosecutor Ani Lekiashvili stated that assets believed to have been obtained through criminal activities must be confiscated from Burchuladze. These include a plot of land and a house in Spain, as well as a property in Tskneti, Georgia, along with related premises.

“Under procedural law, where assets in a case are found to be unlawful or unjustified, and where they have been used, among other purposes, for money laundering and the legalisation of illicit property, those assets must be forfeited by the accused. The prosecution has therefore sought the confiscation specifically of those assets directly connected to the circumstances of this case: namely, the property in Nushi Gardens and the property acquired in Spain. The total estimated value of the assets to be confiscated is approximately 2.5 million lari,” the prosecutor stated.

For the record, Burchuladze faces charges under Article 194(3)(c) and Article 332(2) of the Criminal Code, covering abuse of official authority and the legalisation of unlawful income, offences carrying a custodial sentence of between nine and twelve years.

In total, he is alleged to have laundered 1,593,212 lari in unlawful and unjustified income. According to the indictment, in 2023, Burchuladze, acting in concert with his deputy, a relative, and the former head of the Defence Ministry’s procurement department, supplied a military hospital with medical equipment at an inflated price of 3,940,000 lari against a true value of 2,606,272 lari, thereby causing the Ministry a financial loss of 1,333,728 lari.

Furthermore, in March 2025, Burchuladze and his wife purchased a property in Spain for EUR 544,000. In order to conceal the origin of those funds and lend the transaction an appearance of legitimacy, they drew up a fictitious sale-and-purchase agreement for a property in Tskneti with a third party.

Ghudushauri and Khaindrava face charges of large-scale embezzlement, whilst Mkheidze is charged with aiding and abetting the same. All three are accused of embezzling substantial sums belonging to the Georgian Defence Ministry, acting as a premeditated group and exploiting their official positions. These charges carry sentences of between seven and eleven years in prison. Ghudushauri has been released on bail.