Georgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has brought new charges against former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili for accepting a particularly large bribe as part of a group conspiracy. According to the agency, the case concerns classified state procurements carried out by the Ministry of Defence and the transfer of a GEL 750,000 bribe to Garibashvili as a result of the process.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the bribe was passed to the former prime minister through then-Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze. Investigators allege that competition was artificially restricted during the Defence Ministry’s procurement of medical equipment and supplies, resulting in the state paying significantly more than the actual value of the goods.
Garibashvili is currently serving a five-year sentence in another criminal case under a plea agreement approved by the court. The new charge, under the qualification cited by the Prosecutor’s Office, carries a sentence of 11 to 15 years in prison.
How the New Investigation BeganAccording to Deputy Prosecutor General Amiran Guluashvili, important information became available to investigators on August 12, 2026. He said Vasili Mkheidze, a relative of Georgia’s former Defence Minister who has been convicted in connection with other episodes related to the case, approached the Prosecutor’s Office expressing his willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
Guluashvili said Mkheidze provided investigators with the information in his possession, following which relevant investigative measures were carried out. According to him, former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze also cooperated with the investigation.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, it was on the basis of this material, including information obtained through questioning and other investigative and procedural measures, that Garibashvili’s alleged involvement in the crime was established.
What Does the Prosecutor’s Office Allege Against Garibashvili?
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the alleged criminal scheme operated between 2021 and 2024, when Irakli Garibashvili was serving as Prime Minister of Georgia.
According to Amiran Guluashvili, during this period Garibashvili, as prime minister, determined the main areas of government activity, organized the work of the government, and coordinated and supervised the activities of ministers.
The Prosecutor’s Office said:
“As a result of investigative and procedural measures carried out by the State Security Service, it was established that in 2021–2024, while Irakli Garibashvili held the position of Prime Minister, he was a state-political official. In accordance with the law, among other functions, he determined the main areas of government activity and organized the work of the government, as well as coordinated and supervised the activities of ministers.
”During the same period, Juansher Burchuladze served as Defence Minister. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, as minister, Burchuladze was accountable to the prime minister and supervised the activities of the relevant structures and officials within the ministry.
What Procurements Are Involved?
According to the investigation, from late 2022 the Ministry of Defence needed to purchase various expensive medical equipment and supplies. The Prosecutor’s Office says the procurements were to be conducted through classified procedures.According to the agency’s version of events, Vasili Mkheidze, acting in agreement with Juansher Burchuladze, approached a businessman with relevant experience. The Prosecutor’s Office alleges that the businessman was offered conditions that would guarantee the victory of an affiliated company and ensure a preferred price.In return, investigators allege that the businessman was asked to pay approximately 10% of the contract value in cash.
The Prosecutor’s Office describes the episode as follows: “From late 2022, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia identified a need to purchase various expensive medical equipment and supplies, which was to be carried out through classified procurement procedures. In order to participate in these procedures and obtain an unlawful financial benefit, Vasili Mkheidze, a relative of Juansher Burchuladze, contacted a businessman he knew with relevant experience, in agreement with Burchuladze. He offered to arrange the procurement in a manner that would guarantee the victory of a company affiliated with the businessman at the desired price, in return demanding that 10% of the total contract value be transferred to him in cash.
”According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the businessman initially refused to participate in the criminal agreement and requested additional guarantees from high-ranking officials.
According to the investigation’s version, this was when Irakli Garibashvili became involved in the scheme.
“After the person associated with Vasili MkGeorgia’s Prosecutor’s Office has brought new charges against former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili for accepting a particularly large bribe as part of a group conspiracy. According to the agency, the case concerns classified state procurements carried out by the Ministry of Defence and the transfer of a GEL 750,000 bribe to Garibashvili as a result of the process.
“After the person associated with Vasili Mkheidze initially refrained from entering into the criminal agreement and requested additional guarantees from high-ranking officials, the then-Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, as an accountable official, reached an agreement with then-Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili that procurement for the needs of the Ministry of Defence would be carried out in a manner that would guarantee companies associated with the aforementioned businessman would win at the desired price, in exchange for substantial unlawful financial benefits.
”According to the Prosecutor’s Office, after allegedly receiving “official protection” from Garibashvili, other officials involved in the procurement process made the relevant decisions.
The agency names then-Deputy Defence Minister Giorgi Khaindrava and former Head of the Procurement Department Vladimir Gudushauri.
“Having received full official protection from Irakli Garibashvili, who in turn demanded that a corresponding material benefit be transferred to him and confirmed the reliability of the selected businessman in such matters, then-Deputy Defence Minister Giorgi Khaindrava and then-Head of the Procurement Department Vladimir Gudushauri, acting on the instructions of Juansher Burchuladze, deliberately created an uncompetitive environment during the ministry’s procurement of various medical equipment and supplies for the Giorgi Abramishvili Georgian Ministry of Defence Military Hospital.
”How Much Did the State Pay for the Procurement?
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the case involves three classified procurements. Investigators allege that, under these procurements, affiliated companies supplied the Defence Ministry with medical equipment and other supplies whose actual value was GEL 11,499,705, while the value of the goods and services under the state procurement contracts amounted to GEL 18,484,960.According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the difference represents the damage caused to the state.“As a result, in three classified procurements, companies associated with the aforementioned individuals supplied the Ministry of Defence with medical equipment and other inventory with an actual value of GEL 11,499,705 for GEL 18,484,960.
”According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the scheme caused GEL 6,985,255 in property damage to the state and substantially violated the public interest.
How Was the GEL 1.9 Million Bribe Distributed?
According to the investigation, in exchange for guarantees and protection related to the procurements, the businessman transferred approximately GEL 1.9 million in cash to Vasili Mkheidze in several installments.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, this amount represented approximately 10% of the total contract value of the three procurements.
According to the agency’s version, Mkheidze kept GEL 400,000 of the GEL 1.9 million for himself and transferred GEL 1.5 million to Juansher Burchuladze.
The Prosecutor’s Office alleges that Burchuladze then divided the money into two parts — keeping GEL 750,000 for himself and transferring the remaining GEL 750,000 to Irakli Garibashvili in several installments.
“In exchange for the relevant guarantees and protection, the businessman participating in the procurements transferred approximately 10% of the total contract values — GEL 1.9 million — in cash to Vasili Mkheidze in several installments. Of this amount, Mkheidze retained GEL 400,000 as personal benefit, while transferring the remaining amount in full to Juansher Burchuladze. Of the GEL 1.5 million he received as a bribe, Burchuladze retained GEL 750,000 for himself, while the other half — GEL 750,000 — was also handed over to Irakli Garibashvili in cash in several installments as a bribe.
”Under What Article Was Garibashvili Charged?The Prosecutor’s Office charged Irakli Garibashvili under Article 338, Paragraphs 2(a) and 2(c), and Paragraph 3(e) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the charges concern the acceptance of a particularly large bribe by a state-political official acting as part of a group.The offense carries a prison sentence of 11 to 15 years.
The Prosecutor’s Office also said that the other public officials involved in the case have already been convicted in connection with the aforementioned facts.
Among them, Juansher Burchuladze was sentenced by the court to 10 years in prison.
According to Amiran Guluashvili, since Irakli Garibashvili is currently serving a sentence in another criminal case based on a final guilty verdict, the Prosecutor’s Office will ask the court only to schedule a preliminary hearing in the new case.
“In the case against Irakli Garibashvili, the Prosecutor’s Office will apply to the court only with a motion to schedule a preliminary hearing, as he is already serving a sentence based on a guilty verdict issued in another criminal case,” Amiran Guluashvili said.
The information released by the Prosecutor’s Office represents the investigation’s version of events and the position of the prosecution at this stage. A final decision in the new case against Irakli Garibashvili will be made by the court.
