No decision has been made regarding a plea agreement - no statements have been recorded and accordingly, no negotiations are ongoing with any of them, - stated prosecutor Ana Lekiashvili, who is handling the case of former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, Giorgi Khaidraya, Vladimir Ghudushauri, and Vasil Mkheidze, after the court hearing.

According to her, at this stage none of the accused have approached the Prosecutor's Office on this issue, but if such an application is submitted, the agency will consider it.

"No decision has been made regarding a plea agreement. Both Vladimir Ghudushauri and the other accused can approach us. As of today, no statements have been recorded and accordingly, no negotiations are ongoing with any of them.

However, they have long been declaring that they desire a plea agreement, yet they have not submitted any formal application. If an application is submitted, we will certainly consider it — including whether they actually want a plea agreement or not; that too remains at the level of conversation," - stated Ana Lekiashvili.

Regarding the questioning of one of the accused, Vladimir Ghudushauri, at the court hearing, the prosecutor stated that the witness confirmed during the interrogation that the procurements were carried out on the direct orders of Juansher Burchuladze and that the Minister's deputy Giorgi Khaidraya was also involved.

"At today's court hearing, the accused Vladimir Ghudushauri was questioned. He confirmed that the procurements were carried out on the direct orders of Juansher Burchuladze and that Minister's deputy Giorgi Khaidraya was also involved in this. The accused admitted everything.

As for the work of the tender commission, all witnesses who had any contact with this commission and were questioned in court confirmed that the commission operated formally — commission members did not meet each other and signed the decisions taken only formally," - stated Ana Lekiashvili.

For information: Former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze has been charged under Article 194(3)(c) and Article 332(2) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which involve abuse of official authority and legalization of illegal income. The mentioned acts provide for imprisonment from 9 to 12 years as punishment.

Burchuladze is accused in total of legalizing GEL 1,593,212 of illegal and unsubstantiated income. According to the charges, in 2023 Juansher Burchuladze, with the assistance of his deputy, a relative, and the former head of the Ministry of Defense Procurement Department, supplied medical equipment to the military hospital for GEL 3,940,000 instead of GEL 2,606,272, resulting in property damage of GEL 1,333,728 to the ministry. In addition, in March 2025, Juansher Burchuladze and his wife purchased property in Spain for 544,000 euros. In order to conceal and disguise the origin of this property and give it a legal appearance, they concluded a fictitious sale-purchase agreement for real estate located in Daba Tskneti with a third party.

As for the then-head of the Ministry of Defense Procurement Department Vladimir Ghudushauri and Juansher Burchuladze's deputy Giorgi Khaidraya, they are accused of squandering a large amount of funds, while Burchuladze's brother-in-law Vasil Mkheidze is accused of assisting in the squandering. They have been charged under Article 182(2)(a), (d) and (3)(b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia for squandering and assisting in squandering a large amount of funds belonging to the Ministry of Defense of Georgia by a group through prior agreement and using official position, which provides for imprisonment from 7 to 11 years.

Vladimir Ghudushauri has been released on bail.