The former Deputy Minister of Health, Ilia Ghudushauri, is currently awaiting the official filing of charges. Whether he will provide testimony will be decided after the charges are formally presented, his lawyer, Dimitri Mchedlishvili, told journalists outside the temporary detention facility in Dighomi, where he met with his client.

Mchedlishvili explained that, since he has not yet received the case files, he cannot speak in detail about the evidence against Ghudushauri.

“We had an initial meeting and discussed only general topics. I do not yet know what he is accused of because the charges have not been formally filed, and the case materials have not been handed over to me. Therefore, I cannot provide detailed information about the accusations or the evidence. We will wait for the formal charges, and then I will be able to provide more information.

The detention generally relates to his professional activities in the Ministry of Health. As far as I know, he has not given testimony yet. He was detained at the Ministry of Finance Investigative Service yesterday evening. I do not have information on whether he has been questioned previously or how many times, as we did not cover these details during this meeting,” Mchedlishvili said.

The lawyer also clarified that Ghudushauri’s arrest is not connected to the case against his brother, Vladimer Ghudushauri, former head of the Defense Ministry Procurement Department, who is accused of embezzling a large sum of money.

“These cases are not connected in any way,” Mchedlishvili emphasized.

He further noted that no other individuals were detained alongside Ilia Ghudushauri:

“As far as I know, he is the only one detained.”

Mchedlishvili added that he does not have information on whether former Health Minister Zurab Azarashvili has been questioned.

“I have no information on this, and I do not know the details. Whether Ilia Ghudushauri intends to testify, we will decide after the charges are filed. Once the case files are handed over, we will form a clear position,” the lawyer said.

Ilia Ghudushauri was arrested on January 26. According to the Ministry of Finance Investigative Service, he is detained on suspicion of abusing official powers.