Former Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze, his former Deputy Giorgi Khaindrava, and his brother-in-law Vasil Mkheidze have finalised plea bargain agreements with state prosecutors before the Court of Appeals.

The Tbilisi Court of Appeals upheld the core findings of the court of first instance, finding Juansher Burchuladze guilty of abuse of official authority and money laundering.

Under his plea bargain, Burchuladze was handed a 5-year prison sentence, with 3 years to be served in a penitentiary facility and 2 years suspended under conditional probation. He was also fined GEL 1,000,000, and several high-value assets were forfeited to state ownership without compensation, including a residential property in Málaga province, Spain, a residence in Tskneti, a parking space, and summer property units.

Giorgi Khaindrava was sentenced to four years and two months’ imprisonment, with one year and two months to be served in custody and three years suspended under conditional probation, in addition to a GEL 100,000 fine.

Vasil Mkheidze received an identical sentence of four years and two months’ imprisonment, with one year and two months to be served in custody, three years suspended under probation, and a GEL 100,000 fine. Furthermore, physical evidence seized during the investigation, including several million Lari worth of non-excised cigarettes, raw tobacco, cigarette rods, and manufacturing machinery, was permanently forfeited to the state.

Vasil Mkheidze and Giorgi Khaindrava are scheduled to be released from custody at the end of September