The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged two persons, including former Defence Minister of Georgia Juansher Burchuladze, with taking a particularly large bribe by a group under prior agreement and assisting in the taking of a bribe. The information is distributed by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia.

According to the investigative agency, the investigation conducted by the State Security Service established that in 2021-2024 Juansher Burchuladze held the position of Minister of Defence of Georgia and was a person holding a state-political office.

According to their information, in accordance with the legislation, as a minister he was accountable to the Prime Minister of Georgia and, along with other rights and duties, coordinated the activities of the structural units of the Ministry and exercised official supervision over the decisions and activities of the relevant officials of the Ministry.

“From the end of 2022, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia had a need to purchase various expensive medical equipment and inventory, which was to be carried out through a secret procurement. For the purpose of participating in the said procedures and obtaining unlawful financial benefit, by agreement with Juansher Burchuladze, his relative Vasil Mkheidze contacted a familiar businessman with relevant experience, to whom he offered the announcement of the procurement in such a form that would guaranteedly ensure the victory of the company connected with the latter at the desired price, and in return demanded the transfer to him of 10% of the total contractual value in cash.

After the person connected with Vasil Mkheidze initially refrained from the criminal agreement and demanded more guarantees from persons holding the highest positions, the then Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, as an accountable person, agreed with the then Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili that the procurements for the needs of the Ministry of Defence would be carried out in such a form that would ensure the guaranteed victory of the companies connected with the above-mentioned entrepreneur at the desired price, and in return they would receive solid unlawful financial benefit.

Having received full official protection from Irakli Gharibashvili, who for his part demanded the transfer of the corresponding material benefit to himself as well and confirmed the reliability of the selected businessman in such matters, on the instruction of Juansher Burchuladze, the then Deputy Minister of Defence of Georgia Giorgi Khaindrava and the then Head of the Procurement Department Vladimer Ghudushauri, through purposeful actions in the process of purchasing various medical equipment and inventory by the Ministry for the LEPL ‘Giorgi Abramishvili Military Hospital of the Ministry of Defence of Georgia’, created a non-competitive environment, as a result of which the value of the goods and services to be purchased under the contracts on secret procurement was artificially increased through the conclusion of unreal deals. As a result, during 3 secret procurements, the companies connected with the above-mentioned persons supplied the Ministry of Defence of Georgia with medical equipment and other inventory of a real value of 11,499,705 lari for 18,484,960 lari.

In parallel with the above-mentioned procurements, in exchange for the corresponding guarantees and protection, the businessman participating in the procurements transferred to Vasil Mkheidze in several stages approximately 10% of the total contractual values - 1,900,000 lari in cash, of which the latter retained 400,000 lari as personal benefit, and fully transferred the remaining amount to Juansher Burchuladze. Of the 1,500,000 lari received as a bribe, the latter retained 750,000 lari himself, and transferred the other half of the amount - 750,000 lari - also as a bribe in cash to Irakli Gharibashvili in several stages.

As a result of the above-mentioned action, the state suffered large-scale property damage of 6,985,255 lari and the public interest was substantially violated.

The Prosecutor’s Office has charged Juansher Burchuladze under subparagraphs ‘a’ and ‘g’ of the second part and subparagraph ‘e’ of the third part of Article 338 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, and Vasil Mkheidze under subparagraphs ‘a’ and ‘g’ of the second part and subparagraph ‘e’ of the third part of Articles 25 and 338 of the Criminal Code, which implies the taking of a particularly large bribe by a group by a person holding a state-political office and assisting in the taking of a bribe, and provides for imprisonment from 11 to 15 years as a punishment.

We remind the public that charges have already been brought against former Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili on the same criminal episode. Taking into account the degree of cooperation of Juansher Burchuladze and Vasil Mkheidze with the investigation, the Prosecutor’s Office will submit motions at the first appearance hearing in court for the delivery of a verdict without substantive consideration of the case, which implies the approval of a plea agreement concluded between the parties. According to the motions, Juansher Burchuladze will be found guilty under subparagraphs ‘a’ and ‘g’ of the second part and subparagraph ‘e’ of the third part of Article 338 of the Criminal Code of Georgia and will be sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment, of which he will serve 3 years in a penitentiary institution, and 2 years will be counted as conditional, with the same probationary period. He will also be imposed a fine in the amount of 1,000,000 lari. As for Vasil Mkheidze, he will be found guilty under subparagraphs ‘a’ and ‘g’ of the second part and subparagraph ‘e’ of the third part of Articles 25 and 338 of the Criminal Code and will be sentenced to 4 years and 2 months of imprisonment, of which he will serve 1 year and 2 months in a penitentiary institution, and 3 years will be counted as conditional, with the same probationary period. He will also be imposed a fine in the amount of 100,000 lari.

We remind the public that Juansher Burchuladze and Vasil Mkheidze have already been convicted in another criminal case and have corresponding sentences determined,” the statement says.