Former Georgian Prime Minister Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison

Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili pleaded guilty to laundering illegal income on an especially large scale, striking a plea bargain. The Georgian Prosecutor General's Office announced that he was sentenced to 5 years in prison and a fine of 1 million lari (US$370,000).

The former high-ranking official will also have his illegally obtained income confiscated, along with the seized $6.5 million. The investigation established that Garibashvili, while a member of the government, engaged in illegal business and concealed his income by falsely reporting gifts from relatives in his declarations.

Garibashvili served as Prime Minister twice (2013-2015, 2021-2024) and also served as Minister of Defense and Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia. He is eligible for parole or a presidential pardon.

The investigation established that, while serving in the Georgian government, Garibashvili secretly engaged in business, which is prohibited by law. Garibashvili received large amounts of illegal income, and to conceal its origin, he declared in his asset declarations that he received the money as gifts from relatives.

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