Bachiashvili Accuses Ivanishvili of Orchestrating Case Over Refusal to Push Anti-Western Narrative
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Former Co-Investment Fund Director General Giorgi Bachiashvili has accused Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of using "1990s-style methods" to pursue a politically motivated case against him, claiming he was tortured in prison after refusing to engage in anti-Western propaganda.
Speaking during his final remarks at a court hearing ahead of his appeal verdict, Bachiashvili said the criminal case began after he rejected an alleged ultimatum from Ivanishvili to return money the ruling party founder considered an investment.
"I refused to engage in anti-Western propaganda, and he considered this a betrayal," Bachiashvili told the court. "When the ultimatum expired, the process began against me. Then I received information that they were going to torture me in prison, and that's why I had to leave the country."
Bachiashvili alleged that while in custody, he was assaulted by someone sent "to carry out Ivanishvili's promise." He said no investigation was launched into the incident and that he still does not have formal victim status. "The case against me is being conducted using the old, 'Mkhedrioni'-style, 90s methods," he said. "You can't scare me with anything, not even an 11-year sentence."
The former fund director disputed the prosecution's characterization of the disputed funds. "The documents indicate that it was a loan, although the prosecution and Ivanishvili's testimony indicate it was an investment. Then why didn't they ask where the income from the investment was?" he said.
Bachiashvili accused Ivanishvili of lying repeatedly in testimony. "You won't find even two paragraphs in Ivanishvili's testimony where he didn't lie," he said, also suggesting the prosecutor in the case was acting under pressure.
The Court of Appeal is scheduled to deliver its verdict on August 12 at noon. The case centers on the alleged misappropriation of cryptocurrency belonging to Ivanishvili. In an earlier ruling, the Tbilisi City Court sentenced Bachiashvili to 11 years in prison.
