Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia seeks ₾1 million bail, travel ban for former PM Garibashvili

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia on Friday formally charged the former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili with legalisation of a particularly large amount of illegal income.

Georgian Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze noted that the prosecution had requested the court to impose bail of ₾1 million, as well as to order the surrender of Garibashvili’s passport and to prohibit him from leaving the country pending trial.

According to the investigation conducted by the Anti-Corruption Department of the State Security Service, between 2019 and 2024, while serving as Minister of Defence and later as Prime Minister, Garibashvili secretly engaged in various business activities despite being legally prohibited from doing so under Georgia’s anti-corruption laws. During this time, he allegedly received substantial illegal income from undisclosed business operations.

To conceal the origins of these illicit funds, Garibashvili reportedly submitted false information in his asset declarations, falsely claiming that he received large sums of money as gifts from a family member. Through this method, he allegedly laundered part of the illegal income - amounting to ₾830,000 - by introducing it into legal circulation.

The investigation further revealed that Garibashvili purchased two vehicles worth ₾463,630, registered under an associate’s name, and through a family member, acquired 100% ownership of a company valued at ₾210,000L, which held real estate assets. In addition, a total of ₾3,670,172 was invested in a company registered under his family member’s name.

“A significant portion of his unexplained income had been converted into foreign currency to conceal its origin. As a result, $6.5 million was discovered and seized during a search of Garibashvili’s residence on October 17”, Gvaramidze noted.

Garibashvili has been charged under Article 194 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which pertains to legalisation of illegal income in an especially large amount. According to the Prosecutor General, the defendant has fully admitted his guilt.

The Prosecutor’s Office will submit a motion to the court within the legally prescribed timeframe, seeking the imposition of bail and additional restrictions. The criminal investigation remains ongoing.

Earlier, the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency Emzar Gagnidze announced that Garibashvili had been questioned by the State Security Service and had cooperated fully with the investigation, admitting to having received illegal income over several years.

On October 17, the Prosecutor General Gvarakidze confirmed that searches were conducted at the residences of Irakli Garibashvili, Grigol Liluashvili, Otar Partskhaladze, and eight other individuals. Law enforcement seized electronic devices, documentation, and large amounts of cash as part of ongoing criminal investigations.