Court founds Juansher Burchuladze guilty and sentences him to 10 years in prison, and Giorgi Khaindrava and Vasil Mkheidze, who were detained with him, to 8 years each - a plea agreement was approved for Vladimer Ghudushauri
The court found former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, his former deputy Giorgi Khaindrava, Burchuladze's wife's brother-in-law Vasil Mkheidze, and the former head of the Defense Ministry's Procurement Department, Vladimer Ghudushauri, guilty.
The decision was made by Tbilisi City Court Judge Irakli Khuskivadze.
Juansher Burchuladze was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and his property - a plot of land in Spain and a house on it, as well as a house and parking lot in the Tskneti district - was confiscated, and he was banned from holding office for 2 years.
Giorgi Khaindrava was sentenced to 8 years in prison and banned from holding office for 2 years. Vasil Mkheidze was sentenced to 8 years in prison and items known as evidence were confiscated.
As for the former head of the Procurement Department of the Ministry of Defense, a plea agreement was approved with the following conditions: 4 years of suspended sentence, a 10,000-GEL fine, and a 1-year ban on holding office.
Before announcing the decision, Judge Khuskivadze asked Ghudushauri questions. He was attending the hearing remotely and stated that he confessed to the crime. The judge's decision lifted the seizure of his property.
For your information, former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze was charged under Article 194, Part 3, Subparagraph “c” and Article 332, Part 2 of the Criminal Code, which includes abuse of official authority and legalization of illegal income. The aforementioned act is punishable by 9 to 12 years of imprisonment.
As for Vladimer Ghudushauri and Giorgi Khaindrava, they are accused of embezzlement of a large amount of money, while Vasil Mkheidze is accused of aiding and abetting embezzlement and trading in influence.
They have been charged with embezzlement of a large amount of money belonging to the Ministry of Defense of Georgia by a group of individuals by prior agreement, aiding in embezzlement, and trading under influence, under Article 182, Part 2, Subparagraphs “a”, “d” and Part 3, Subparagraph “b” of Article 182 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, Part 2, Article 339, Part 1, and Articles 25-182 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for a sentence of 7 to 11 years of imprisonment.