TBILISI, January 14 – Georgia’s political class were in shock after prosecutors confirmed a plea deal with former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, a man who until recently was part of the inner circle of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
On Tuesday, the Prosecutor’s Office said it had signed a plea agreement with Garibashvili. Under the deal, he was sentenced to five years in prison and given an additional 1 million lari (372,000 USD) fine, according to the prosecution’s statement. Prosecutors also said cash seized during a search of his home will be confiscated as proceeds of crime.
Garibashvili’s lawyer, Dito Sadzaglishvili, told reporters that Garibashvili admitted guilt and was taken into custody. The lawyer said the case is in Georgia’s “financial” crime category and centers on alleged money laundering, linked to undeclared income from the wine industry. He also said authorities seized items during the home search, including cash, and that the confiscated property and money would be transferred to the state budget. The lawyer added that Garibashvili did not agree to testify against anyone, and said a wine factory discussed in public rumors would not be seized.
The ruling party described the case as proof that Georgian Dream does not shield insiders when the evidence is strong. MP Irakli Kadagishvili told journalists that when “a solid set of evidence” comes together on corruption allegations, law enforcement and the courts make the necessary decisions, even if it is politically painful for the team.
Opposition figures, on the other hand, described the development as a power struggle and a warning shot inside the governing camp. Leaders from the opposition bloc Lelo said the case showed that “no one is safe” once they fall out of favor, portraying Garibashvili as a former loyal heavyweight who has now become expendable.
Others among the opposition cast the arrest as part of a wider political crisis, arguing the government is cracking down at home while facing sustained street protests and mounting external criticism.
