A controversial trial involving Bidzina Ivanishvili, billionaire founder of the Georgian Dream party, and Giorgi Bachiashvili, former head of the Co-Investment Fund, opened today at Tbilisi City Court. Bachiashvili stands accused of misappropriating cryptocurrency allegedly belonging to Ivanishvili.
The trial has already sparked heated criticism, with Bachiashvili accusing the judicial process of being politically influenced. “This is a trial in which Ivanishvili is the plaintiff, the prosecutor, and the judge,” he told reporters, describing the proceedings as emblematic of how a legal system should not function.
He also alleged that over two years, the prosecutor’s office has failed to present any credible evidence to support Ivanishvili’s claims. “If not for Ivanishvili’s political power and influence over the judiciary, this case would not even be under consideration,” he added.
