The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia says 6.5 million US dollars in cash was discovered during a search of former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s residence on October 17. Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze announced the findings at a briefing today, outlining allegations of illegal business activities and illicit income.
Investigation says Garibashvili, who served as Defense Minister and later Prime Minister between 2019 and 2024, was prohibited by law from participating in any form of entrepreneurial activity or receiving income beyond his official salary. Despite this, prosecutors say he secretly engaged in various business ventures and obtained particularly large amounts of illegal revenue.
Gvarakidze stated that Garibashvili falsified data in his mandatory asset declarations by claiming that substantial sums of money he received each year were gifts from a family member. This allegedly allowed him to legalize a portion of the illicit funds, including 830,000 GEL that was subsequently integrated into the financial system.
The Prosecutor’s Office also reports that Garibashvili purchased two vehicles worth 463,630 GEL and acquired 100 percent of a company for 210,000 GEL through a relative, in an attempt to conceal ownership. Additionally, 3,670,172 GEL was invested into a company registered under a family member’s name.
Prosecutors allege that the majority of the unexplained funds were converted into foreign currency to hide their true source. The resulting 6.5 million dollars were seized during the October search.
Further legal proceedings are ongoing.
Image: 1TV
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