According to the prosecutor’s statement, a plea agreement will also be concluded with Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze in the case of embezzlement of funds belonging to the Ministry of Defence. Juansher Burchuladze has been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment in the said case.

Prosecutor Ana Lekiashvili explains that at this stage specific conditions have not been reached, but negotiations regarding the plea agreement are ongoing.

“The hearing scheduled in the Court of Appeal is on 28 September. As of today, negotiations on a plea agreement are indeed ongoing with the defence side. Specific conditions have not been reached. Of course, you will be informed about the results later. If the Court of Appeal upholds the conviction, of course the same sentences will remain in force,” the prosecutor stated.

For reference, the Prosecutor’s Office brought new charges against former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and his relative Vasil Mkheidze, but taking into account “the degree of their cooperation with the investigation,” concluded a plea agreement with the accused.

The new charge concerns the fact of taking a particularly large bribe by a group under prior agreement and assisting in the taking of a bribe. Juansher Burchuladze was 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 was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment, of which he will serve 3 years in a penitentiary institution, while 2 years will be counted as conditional, with the same probationary period. He was also imposed a fine in the amount of 1,000,000 lari.

As for Vasil Mkheidze, he was 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 was sentenced to 4 years and 2 months of imprisonment, of which he will serve 1 year and 2 months in a penitentiary institution, while 3 years will be counted as conditional, with the same probationary period. He was also imposed a fine in the amount of 100,000 lari.

As for the second case, for which Juansher Burchuladze has been sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment - he had been charged under subparagraph “g” of the third part of Article 194 and the second part of Article 332 of the Criminal Code, which implies abuse of official authority and legalisation of illegal income. The judge found him guilty of the charges brought on 23 April of the current year and sentenced him to 10 years of imprisonment.