Former Prime Minister Garibashvili Sentenced to Five Years in Prison in Money Laundering Case
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Georgia's former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili will serve five years in prison after the Prosecutor General's Office announced a plea deal on January 12 in a serious money laundering case.
Under the agreement, Garibashvili was also fined 1 million GEL, about 270,000 U.S. dollars. Authorities said money seized from his home and determined to be illegally obtained will be confiscated and transferred to the state budget.
Speaking to journalists after Garibashvili's arrest, his lawyer Mikheil Shakulashvili said the former prime minister admitted guilt, cooperated with investigators, and was taken into custody immediately after the court decision.
"This person confessed to the crime, went to prison, was fined, and his cars were confiscated," Shakulashvili said. "At this stage, he is on his way to Rustavi, or wherever they are taking him, to prison. Flash drives and similar items were seized from his house, and 6.5 million dollars were confiscated and sent to the state budget."
Garibashvili was charged with serious money laundering in October and initially faced a possible sentence of nine to twelve years in prison. At the time, the court set bail at 1 million GEL and barred him from leaving Georgia after his passport was seized. The State Security Service said he admitted receiving illegal income.
According to Shakulashvili, Garibashvili did not testify against anyone as part of the plea deal and does not intend to do so. "He cooperated on his own," the lawyer said, adding that no additional charges have been brought against his client.
The lawyer said the case centered on undeclared business activity rather than abuse of official authority. "When a business operates, including in the wine industry, it must submit tax declarations. Since these declarations were not filled out, that is exactly the crime. This is what is called the legalization of illegal income," Shakulashvili said.
He stressed that Garibashvili's winery and factory would not be confiscated, saying they were financed through documented bank loans that are still being repaid. "One loan was taken to purchase land and build a factory, the second to bring in equipment. These loans are being repaid monthly for specific purposes," he said. "The factory will not be confiscated."
Shakulashvili also said that gold, watches, and other valuables seized during searches did not belong to Garibashvili. He added that the business activity in question was unrelated to Garibashvili's former official duties.
Garibashvili served as Georgia's prime minister twice, from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2024. He was one of the closest allies of Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili. He was succeeded by Irakli Kobakhidze in February 2024, later became chairman of Georgian Dream, and left the party and politics in April 2025.
The case against Garibashvili comes amid a broader anti-corruption campaign launched by Georgian Dream targeting former officials and business figures linked to the ruling party. Authorities say more than 7 million U.S. dollars in cash and valuables have been seized from dozens of homes belonging to former officials, including Garibashvili.
As part of the same crackdown, former State Security Service chief Grigol Liluashvili was arrested on December 23. Liluashvili, who held the post until April 2025, is accused of bribery and faces a potential prison sentence of 11 to 15 years.
