Former Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to money‑laundering charges; prosecutors say $6.5 million was seized. The plea agreement followed anti‑corruption raids in October and alleges unlawful transactions from 2019–2024. The case is part of a wider purge of senior Georgian Dream figures, raising concerns about internal party infighting, democratic backsliding and a potential tilt toward Russia — charges the government denies.
Georgia Jails Ex‑PM Irakli Garibashvili for Five Years After Money‑Laundering Plea, Triggering Party Shake-Up
Behind bars: former Georgian premier Irakli Garibashvili (Handout)(Handout/Georgian Prime Minsiter's Office/AFP)
Georgia's former prime minister, Irakli Garibashvili, was sentenced to five years in prison after prosecutors said he pleaded guilty to money‑laundering charges — the latest development in a sweeping upheaval within the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Details of the Case
Prosecutors said a search of Garibashvili's apartment uncovered and led to the seizure of $6.5 million. Authorities allege he laundered funds between 2019 and 2024. After anti‑corruption raids on the homes and offices of several former officials in October, Garibashvili admitted to receiving illegal income for a number of years and signed a plea deal that limited his potential prison term.
The prosecutor's office said it "signed a plea agreement with former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, under which he was sentenced to five years in prison."
Political Context and Fallout
The mountainous Caucasus country bordering Russia has been mired in political crisis since October, when the ruling Georgian Dream party declared victory in parliamentary elections the opposition said were stolen. Garibashvili — who served as prime minister from 2013 to 2015 and again from 2021 to 2024 — was widely regarded as a close ally of oligarch and Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Other high‑ranking figures from Georgian Dream have also been jailed as part of what authorities describe as an anti‑corruption campaign. Analysts say the arrests could reflect factional infighting within the party, where some members have faced Western sanctions. Observers warn the wave of prosecutions and a broader crackdown on opposition voices have heightened concerns about democratic backsliding and a possible drift toward Moscow — allegations the government denies.
What Comes Next
The conviction of a former prime minister and the broader series of arrests mark a significant moment in Georgia's fraught political landscape. The developments are likely to intensify international scrutiny of the government’s commitment to democratic norms and could complicate Georgia's long‑standing bid for EU membership.
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