Former Georgian Prime Minister Sentenced to Five Years

Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has been jailed for five years after admitting to money laundering charges, according to a statement released by Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office. The conviction follows a plea agreement and concludes a high-profile investigation into alleged financial crimes committed over several years.

Guilty Plea and Sentence

The Prosecutor General’s Office said on Monday that Garibashvili, who served as Prime Minister from 2013 to 2015 and again between 2021 and 2024, pleaded guilty under Article 194, Part Three of Georgia’s Criminal Code.

Under the plea agreement approved by the court, Garibashvili received a five-year prison sentence. In addition, he was fined 1 million Georgian lari, equivalent to roughly $370,000, and assets deemed to have been obtained through criminal activity were confiscated by the state.

“The accused admits the crime and agrees to the terms of the plea agreement,” the prosecutor’s office said, confirming that the court had formally endorsed the deal.

Allegations of Illegal Business Activity

Investigators said that between 2019 and 2024, Garibashvili unlawfully engaged in business activities prohibited for public officials and falsified his mandatory income declarations. Authorities argue these actions were part of a broader scheme to conceal illicit financial gains.

The case represents a rare instance in which a former head of government in Georgia has been convicted on corruption-related charges.

Origins of the Investigation

The investigation stems from a major operation carried out in October 2023, when Georgian special services conducted searches at the homes of several former officials. During those operations, authorities seized more than $7 million in cash and assets, including funds linked to Garibashvili, according to investigators.

The seizures intensified public scrutiny and accelerated legal proceedings against senior political figures.