Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili says that the proposed tightening of travel restrictions for individuals convicted of financial crimes is not directed at any specific person. He made the statement in response to journalists’ questions about whether the initiative was connected to the cases of Giorgi Bachiashvili and Juansher Burchuladze.
According to the Georgian Dream initiative, individuals convicted of financial crimes could face a permanent ban on leaving the country until they fully compensate victims for the damages caused. The new measure forms part of a broader legislative package on financial offenses, initially prompted by high-profile cases that exposed gaps in existing regulations.
Papuashvili emphasized that the law represents a systemic criminal policy rather than a reaction to individual circumstances. “This law applies to various types of crimes. It is part of the criminal policy the Parliament of Georgia has adopted through legislation,” he said. The Speaker noted that the government had faced multiple challenges over time, from call center schemes to various fraud cases, and needed a consistent, preventive legal framework.
“The goal is not to target anyone,” Papuashvili stressed. “This is part of our policy on different types of crimes. People involved in financial offenses should know in advance that strict punishment awaits them, and that victims will be fully protected by the Georgian state.”
