Ex-deputy health minister faces up to 5 years in prison over alleged procurement abuse

Ilia Gudushauri, former deputy minister of Georgia’s Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons, Labor, Health and Social Affairs, has been charged with abuse of office in connection with a specific public procurement, an offence that carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison or a fine, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

Lawyer Dimitri Mchedlishvili said the charge relates to one particular tender, and the defence is currently reviewing the investigation files. Prosecutors noted that Gudushauri admitted the alleged wrongdoing and cooperated with authorities, and they plan to request bail as a preventive measure.