Giorgi Bachiashvili, former head of the Co-Investment Fund and convicted in the "Bitcoin case", testified in court about how he was abducted from abroad to be brought back to Georgia.
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"I am not guilty of any criminal case fabricated against me. Today, I am Ivanishvili's personal political prisoner. Today, I want to inform you about a new, very significant international crime that occurred directly by Ivanishvili's order.
On Saturday, May 24, I was abducted from abroad. They blindfolded and left me like that for two days without access to a lawyer, prosecutor, judge, or the ability to notify or speak with family members.
Subsequently, I was directly kidnapped and shoved onto a Georgian Airways Bombardier aircraft and brought to Georgia in violation of all laws.
Georgian history remembers many cases with complications, but the criminal group that calls itself the Georgian government has truly outdone itself.
I have no idea what they told that state which led to such an action against me. However, they gravely misled it, and my extortion special operation acquired international dimensions. The Georgian government had no way to extradite me because the Interpol search for me had been suspended as a result of my lawyers' appeal. Interpol had no difficulty determining that my criminal prosecution was political. Therefore, Georgian representatives, by Ivanishvili's order, resorted to a bandit-like method and brought me to Georgia by abduction. By doing so, they violated not only the European Convention on Human Rights but also numerous norms of international law and many norms of the country I was in," Giorgi Bachiashvili stated at the court hearing concerning the Mtkvari HPP case, in which Bachiashvili is also accused.
According to Bachiashvili, he is ready to inform the investigation of all details regarding the abduction.
"I will report all the details to the investigation, not because I trust this investigation, but to once again show the public what kind of country we live in and whose criminal orders the entire state is fulfilling. This is a shame for our country. Today, you are prosecuting Bidzina Ivanishvili's personal prisoner. Everyone will be held accountable sooner or later. Tea Tsulukiani's shows will be nothing in comparison, believe me!"Bachiashvili said.
According to prosecutor Mikheil Sadradze, the matter Bachiashvili spoke about is under investigation by the State Security Service.
On May 27, the State Security Service itself released information stating that Giorgi Bachiashvili, a dual citizen of Georgia and the Russian Federation, who was wanted with a red circular and convicted, was arrested near the so-called "green border" section between Red Bridge and Sadakhlo. The State Security Service claimed that they learned about Bachiashvili's movement through an anonymous tip.
According to media reports, Bachiashvili may have been arrested as part of cooperation between the Georgian government and the United Arab Emirates. Under the alleged agreement, Georgia would withdraw Zurab Pololikashvili's candidacy from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) leadership election in exchange for Bachiashvili's arrest and support of the UAE's candidate. Media outlet The Diplomat also reported on this.
Irakli Kobakhidze claims that Zurab Pololikashvili's withdrawal from the UNWTO presidential candidacy was not exchanged for Giorgi Bachiashvili.
Bachiashvili is being investigated under Article 344, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to illegal border crossing and carries a sentence of three to five years of imprisonment. Giorgi Bachiashvili secretly left Georgia on March 4. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs investigation, Bachiashvili secretly crossed into Armenia using a special hiding place in his car and then flew to Qatar using a Russian passport.
On March 10, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison in absentia on a “Bitcoin case”. Bachiashvili was sued by Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chairman of Georgian Dream. According to the Prosecutor's Office, Bachiashvili transferred only $536,900 to Bidzina Ivanishvili in exchange for the full profit from his investment, while unlawfully appropriating the remaining 8,986 Bitcoins belonging to the investor, valued at approximately $43 million at the time of their appropriation. Giorgi Bachiashvili denies the charges.
