The prosecution has gathered numerous pieces of evidence at the investigation stage, including protocols of witness interviews that directly indicate the commission of the crime by Irakli Gharibashvili, - this was stated to journalists by the prosecutor in the case of former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, Ana Lekiashvili.

According to her, “at the investigation stage, when the evidentiary standard was created that was sufficient to bring charges against Irakli Gharibashvili, the prosecution issued a resolution on this.”

“Today at the Tbilisi City Court a hearing was held to determine the pre-trial hearing in the criminal case of the charge against Irakli Gharibashvili, since the prosecution considered that there was no formal basis for the imposition of a restrictive measure against him, because as of today he is placed in a penitentiary institution and is serving a sentence in another criminal case. Irakli Gharibashvili is charged with the commission of the crime provided for by Article 338, Part 2, sub-paragraphs ‘a’ and ‘g’ and Part 3, sub-paragraph ‘e’ of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which means the taking of a bribe by a person holding a state-political office, of a particularly large amount, by a group acting with prior knowledge.

The prosecution has gathered numerous pieces of evidence at the investigation stage, including protocols of witness interviews that directly indicate the commission of the crime by Irakli Gharibashvili. Also written documentation, material evidence and other. Accordingly, as of today, the prosecution has acquired the legal basis that the corresponding standard existed for bringing charges against Irakli Gharibashvili and issued a resolution on the charging of the person. As for the course of the investigation, when the criminal case existing against Juansher Burchuladze and other accused was sent to the Tbilisi City Court, a criminal case was separated by the Prosecutor’s Office from the said case in connection with the possible criminal activity of other persons. This happened in November 2025. Investigation was being conducted on the said case, investigative-procedural actions were being actively carried out. When the evidentiary standard was created that was sufficient to bring charges against Irakli Gharibashvili, the prosecution issued a resolution on this.

Among the obtained material evidence is meant, among other things, requested information; this is information existing directly in connection with those tenders in connection with which Juansher Burchuladze and other accused, currently convicted, were tried and convicted. Numerous written and material pieces of evidence are presented in the case.

As you know, the Ministry of Defence conducted tenders directly in connection with the purchase of various equipment and apparatus by the Gori Military Hospital. The total contractual value of the said tenders was 19 million, in connection with which the then Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was issuing the corresponding protection and guarantees. 10% of this contractual value was brought by the corresponding person to Vasil Mkheidze, from which Irakli Gharibashvili took 750 thousand lari as a bribe, in the form of cash. Juansher Burchuladze directly, in cash, as a bribe, transferred 750 thousand lari to Irakli Gharibashvili.

The accused Irakli Gharibashvili could have recorded a position, including after the bringing of the charge, however the position of the defence is indicated on the prosecution’s resolution, that at this stage he refuses to record any position,” Ana Lekiashvili stated.

For information, a new charge was brought yesterday against the former Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, who is in detention, in the case of the taking of a particularly large amount of a bribe by a group.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, in connection with the fact of the former Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, taking a large amount of a bribe, information was provided to the investigative body by the relative of the former Minister of Defence, Juansher Burchuladze - Vasil Mkheidze. The agency also reports that Juansher Burchuladze himself cooperated with the investigation. The case concerns several secret procurements conducted during Irakli Gharibashvili’s premiership for the purchase of medical inventory and equipment needed by the Ministry of Defence.