The Tbilisi City Court has imposed a bail of 1 million Georgian lari on former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili as a preventive measure in the case of alleged large-scale money laundering, Georgian Public Broadcaster reports. Judge Eka Barbakadze announced the decision today.
The court granted the prosecutor’s motion in its entirety. Garibashvili is now required to pay the specified amount within 30 days. Additionally, the court approved the prosecutor’s requests to prohibit him from travelling abroad and to confiscate his passport.
Garibashvili did not make a statement during the hearing, merely offering a brief comment that he agrees with the charges. His lawyers were the only ones to speak; notably, Lili Gelashvili, one of his legal representatives, stated that Irakli Garibashvili attended the initial questioning, has not attempted to leave the country, and, given his character, there is no reason to believe he would attempt to evade justice.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for December 16.
Irakli Garibashvili left the court shortly after the hearing concluded.
For context, on October 17, residences belonging to former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, former Head of the State Security Service of Georgia Grigol Liluashvili, former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhladze, and individuals associated with them were searched. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, various electronic devices, documentation and large sums of cash were seized.
During a briefing held at the State Security Service on October 22, it was announced that former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili had been questioned at the Anti-Corruption Agency. He cooperated fully with the investigation and admitted to receiving illegal income over the years.
