At this stage, no negotiations whatsoever are under way with Juansher Burchuladze and Vasil Mkheidze regarding a plea agreement, - this was stated to journalists by prosecutor Ana Lekiashvili in connection with the former Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze and his relative Vasil Mkheidze.

According to the prosecutor’s explanation, as of today no statement whatsoever has been recorded on their part to the prosecution by Juansher Burchuladze and other persons who are convicted in the criminal case at the Tbilisi Court of Appeal.

“With regard to the applications that they presented at the first-instance court, a response was given to them already at the first-instance court. At this stage no negotiations whatsoever are under way regarding a plea agreement with the said convicts.

As for the practice in connection with a plea agreement, when an accused or a convict applies to the Prosecutor’s Office regarding a plea agreement, we always consider it and take a decision taking various circumstances into account, including compensation of damage, admission, and so on.

Since, as of today, no negotiations are under way, we cannot provide information as to what we should expect in this connection,” Ana Lekiashvili stated.

We remind you that on 23 April 2026 the Tbilisi City Court found the former Minister of Defence of Georgia, Juansher Burchuladze, guilty of abuse of office and legalisation of large amounts of illegal income (money laundering) and sentenced him to 10 years of deprivation of liberty. Among those convicted in the case is also Burchuladze’s relative, Vasil Mkheidze, whom the court sentenced to 8 years of deprivation of liberty.