Spain seizes former Defence Minister’s real estate registered in his wife’s name

Prosecutor Ani Lekiashvili states that a Spanish court has seized real estate registered in the name of Juansher Burchuladze’s wife, Nino Mkheidze.

She also announced that the property of all charged individuals in the same case was seized. The Georgian side applied to Spain with this request.

“We applied to the Tbilisi City Court, which issued the relevant ruling. It was forwarded within the framework of legal relations by the relevant investigative service and the Prosecutor General’s Office to the Kingdom of Spain. Spain considered it appropriate to seize Nino Mkheidze’s property,” the Prosecutor said.

Responding to the question of why the accounts of pensioner members of Juansher Burchuladze’s family were seized, the prosecutor noted that the seizure applied to all accounts.

“All their accounts with certain amounts, including property, were seized. As for the lifting of the seizure, they can apply to the court, and the appropriate decision will be made,” she stated.

The trial of former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze was held at the Tbilisi City Court, where the prosecution’s evidence was examined.

Employees of the Procurement Department of the Ministry were questioned about the 2023 tender, based on which the Defence Ministry had to purchase medical equipment for Gori Military Hospital.

During today’s trial, the preventive measure for all four defendants, Juansher Burchuladze, Vladimer Ghudushauri, Giorgi Khaindrava, and Vasil Mkheidze, was also reviewed. The Court upheld the preventive measure and decided to keep it in effect.

Former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze is charged with abuse of official duties and legalization of illicit revenues. Four other individuals are charged with embezzlement of state funds.