“I knew I would die in prison,” says former Georgian investment chief Giorgi Bachiashvili in an interview with The Guardian.
In an article titled “How the Right-hand Man of Georgia’s de facto Ruler Ended Up on the Run,” The Guardian journalist Daniel Boffey speaks with Giorgi Bachiashvili, the former head of Georgia’s Co-Investment Fund. The article was published on May 26, before Bachiashvili’s arrest.
Bachiashvili reveals that he was warned by intelligence services from two countries about a plot to assassinate him—allegedly by North Caucasian groups, likely Chechens.
He describes himself as having been the closest person to Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgia’s de facto ruler:
“I was his right hand. I would say I was his consigliere. And consiglieres often deal with dark matters.”
Speaking about fleeing Georgia, Bachiashvili says: “It’s not easy, leaving everything behind without knowing if it will succeed. But I knew I would die in prison.”
For security reasons, he asked The Guardian not to disclose the location of the interview.
While in hiding, he held talks with various governments about his future—during which he learned his life was in danger.
However, Bachiashvili does not believe the assassination order came directly from Ivanishvili:
“I was told not only that there is a risk, but that a [kill] order had been issued. I fear it may come from foreign intelligence or military forces aiming to weaken Ivanishvili. If the killing is linked to him, it could ruin any chance of normal relations with the US and place him under even tighter control.”
He claims Ivanishvili turned against him after suspecting he could no longer carry out assignments—and might even be a Western spy.
“For Ivanishvili, control over power is existential. He’s fighting for his life. He’s like a machine operating solely on reptilian survival instincts.”
On May 27, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has confirmed the detention of Giorgi Bachiashvili, based on an official statement released by the agency.
Related story: Amsterdam & Partners: Giorgi Bachiashvili faces an immediate risk of torture after his forcible return to Georgia
