Bichiko Paikidze was detained on December 9 in Spain, specifically in Barcelona, and extradition procedures have been initiated, said prosecutor Beka Khunashvili in the case against Paikidze, who is charged with fraudulently obtaining a large sum of state funds, aiding fraud committed by a group acting in prior conspiracy, and the fabrication and use of forged official documents.

According to Khunashvili, Paikidze had been wanted under an Interpol Red Notice, and there is “no information about any circumstances that would hinder his extradition.”

“Bichiko Paikidze was wanted. A search had been declared for him, including under an Interpol Red Notice. He was detained on December 9 in Spain, in Barcelona. Extradition procedures are now underway. We have no additional information at this stage. The main thing now is that he be transferred to Georgian law enforcement authorities so that he can be tried.

When the search under the Interpol Red Notice began, he was located in Barcelona and detained. To my knowledge, he had not changed his first or last name.

Whether he requested political asylum is unknown to me, but as far as extradition is concerned, there is no information about any circumstances that would prevent his transfer,” Beka Khunashvili said.

Background:Former Georgian Dream member of the Vani Municipal Council, Bichiko Paikidze, is accused of actions allegedly committed between June 2021 and September 2022. According to the investigation, during the execution of a state tender for riverbank protection works on sections of the Kutaisi–Alpana–Mamison Pass road and in areas of Oni Municipality damaged by natural disasters, Paikidze - the 100% owner of LLC “B.P. TRANS” - together with the company’s director Valerian Kvaratskhelia, employee Ioseb Chanchaleishvili, and managers responsible for supervising the tender - Roin Popkhadze, Giorgi Kvakhadze, and Irakli Galogre - fraudulently obtained funds belonging to Georgia’s Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.

The prosecution alleges that, through the preparation and use of forged official documents, the group unlawfully appropriated 4,184,249 GEL, causing significant financial damage and substantially harming the legitimate interests of the state.

Paikidze was charged in absentia under Article 180(3)(b) and Article 362(2)(b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which cover large-scale fraud and the preparation and use of forged official documents causing significant damage. These offenses carry a potential sentence of up to nine years in prison.

The company’s director Valerian Kvaratskhelia, employee Ioseb Chanchaleishvili, and the supervising managers Giorgi Kvakhadze, Roin Popkhadze, and Irakli Galogre were charged under Articles 25 and 180(2)(a), 180(3)(b), and 362(2)(b) of the Criminal Code, which concern aiding large-scale fraud committed by a group acting in prior conspiracy and the fabrication and use of forged official documents causing significant damage. These charges carry a possible sentence of six to nine years’ imprisonment.