Parents of Jailed Ex-Associate of Ivanishvili Charged in Money-Laundering Case
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, September 30, 2025
The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has charged the parents of Giorgi Bachiashvili, a former associate of Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, accusing them of helping launder millions of dollars allegedly tied to stolen cryptocurrency.
According to prosecutors, Bachiashvili's parents assisted in concealing nearly 3.5 million US dollars in illegally obtained funds. The charges stem from a wider investigation into the laundering of 8,987 Bitcoins, worth about 1 billion dollars at current market prices. A court previously found that Bachiashvili embezzled the cryptocurrency from Ivanishvili.
"The ongoing investigation has found that Giorgi Bachiashvili has also involved his parents in the actions necessary to legalize part of the criminally obtained assets," the Prosecutor's Office said in a statement released on September 29.
Investigators allege that the couple transferred money from abroad into Georgia, deposited it into their accounts and accounts linked to their son, and mingled it with other assets. Prosecutors said the funds were also used to purchase and resell properties before being moved into accounts controlled by Bachiashvili.
"As a result, between 2017 and 2023, Giorgi Bachiashvili, with his parents' help, legalized illicit income of 2,944,957 US dollars and 1,097,187 lari," the statement added.
The parents have been charged under Articles 25 and 194-3(c) of the Criminal Code, which cover laundering particularly large sums of money. If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison. Their assets, including bank accounts and property, were frozen earlier this month.
Bachiashvili himself is serving an 11-year sentence after being convicted of embezzling cryptocurrency from Ivanishvili and laundering it. He was arrested in May, claiming he had been abducted abroad in an operation involving State Security Service head Anri Okhanashvili. His arrest came weeks after he fled Georgia, saying his life would be in danger if jailed.
The case has remained controversial. In July, Bachiashvili reported being beaten while in prison. Authorities later claimed the incident might have been staged with his involvement, a dispute that led to the resignation of Special Penitentiary Service chief Bezhan Obgaidze.
The money-laundering probe comes amid new anti-corruption measures advanced by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The laws tighten restrictions on individuals convicted of financial crimes, including travel bans until restitution is paid and provisions to recover funds from relatives.
