Ivanishvili’s ex-Financer Bachiashvili alleges kidnapping, denial of rights in court appearance

Former head of the Georgian Co-Investment Fund, Giorgi Bachiashvili, has accused Georgian authorities of abducting him from abroad and bringing him back to the country in violation of his legal rights. Speaking at the Tbilisi City Court on Friday, Bachiashvili said he was never questioned by investigators despite being the alleged victim of what he described as a “kidnapping.”

“I am not recognised as a victim, and no one has questioned me. Accordingly, I have not been questioned either,” Bachiashvili told the court, where Judge Jvebe Nachkebia is considering charges related to his alleged illegal border crossing.

He further claimed that his prosecution was politically motivated and linked to his fallout with billionaire and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili. “When it comes to the rights and freedoms of citizens, there is no reaction. But when it comes to Mr Ivanishvili’s interests, even intentional murder starts at 10 years, and I’ve been sentenced to 11 years just for testifying against one man,” he said.

Bachiashvili, previously known as Ivanishvili’s “personal financier,” is accused by Ivanishvili of embezzling approximately $1 billion in cryptocurrency. He fled Georgia in early March and was believed to be residing in the United Arab Emirates.

On 27 May, the Georgian State Security Service announced that Bachiashvili had been arrested near the so-called “green border” between Tsiteli Khidi and Sadakhlo following an anonymous tip the previous day. However, Bachiashvili offered a different account of his return to Georgia.

“I was kidnapped abroad, blindfolded, held incommunicado for two days - without access to a lawyer, prosecutor, or my family - and then forced onto an Airzena aircraft,” he said. He claimed that Anri Okhanashvili, the new head of the State Security Service, was also on board during the flight.