An ill person was brought to the investigative agency; he suffers from serious illnesses, and his testimony became the basis for Giorgi Kandelaki’s detention and the initiation of criminal prosecution—messages or photos sent by Boris Gogichaishvili do not mean he was coordinating anything with Giorgi Kandelaki, said Gagi Mosiashvili, the lawyer of detained businessman and former boxer Giorgi Kandelaki, after the court hearing.

According to him, “the investigative agency seized alcoholic beverages, but to the question of whether Giorgi Kandelaki is connected to the case, the answer is no.”

“Regarding the charges brought, Giorgi is completely innocent, although the factual circumstances in the case might have provided grounds for applying a preventive measure, but in no case was there a basis for imposing the harshest preventive measure.

Today, the court heard the defense’s position and made a decision only formally. Of course, the defense will appeal the unjustified decision to impose a preventive measure in a higher instance. Unfortunately, such decisions undermine democratic institutions.

An ill person was brought to the investigative agency; he suffers from serious illnesses, and his testimony became the basis for Giorgi Kandelaki’s detention and the initiation of criminal prosecution—I am referring to Boris Gogichaishvili’s testimony.

Messages or photos sent by Boris Gogichaishvili do not mean he was coordinating anything, and we will explain this legally. There was no connection whatsoever to the production or sale of alcoholic beverages. As of now, the sale of the beverages by the company has not been confirmed. Alcoholic beverages were seized, but to our question—whether Giorgi Kandelaki is connected to this—the answer is no,” stated Gagi Mosiashvili.

For reference, the Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance seized 75,137 bottles of alcoholic beverages and 318,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes, in connection with which seven individuals, including Giorgi Kandelaki, were detained. They were charged under Articles 200 (parts 3 and 4) of the Criminal Code (production and storage of excisable goods subject to mandatory marking without an excise stamp by an organized group in particularly large quantities) and Article 196 (part 3) (production of goods illegally marked with another’s trademark or registered trade name in large quantities), which carry penalties of seven to ten years of imprisonment.

According to the investigation, since 2022, the accused, with the intent of illegally obtaining financial benefits, formed an organized criminal group.

They had set up infrastructure and full technical equipment for committing the crime on a leased plot of land in the city of Gori, where they systematically produced and stored alcoholic beverages—whiskey and vodka—subject to mandatory excise marking without excise stamps, for the purpose of their subsequent sale.

The detained individuals are: Giorgi Kandelaki, Boris Gogichaishvili, Tengiz Gulordava, Aleko Kurtanidze, Kartlos Jalabadze, Giorgi Bibilashvili, and Giorgi Kavtaradze.