A Tbilisi court has partially closed proceedings in a high-profile embezzlement case involving billionaire and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili. The decision was made on Wedndesday to protect “commercial secrets,” meaning Ivanishvili’s testimony will not be made public. He is participating in the trial remotely.
The case centres on allegations of large-scale cryptocurrency embezzlement against Giorgi Bachiashvili, Ivanishvili’s former associate. Bachiashvili, who was charged in July 2023, faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted. He denies the accusations, claiming the funds in question were a loan and that he is being targeted due to his changing political stance.
Judge Giorgi Gelashvili granted the prosecution’s request to partially close the hearing despite objections from Bachiashvili and his lawyer.
The defence argued that much of the case had already been publicly discussed and that the prosecution failed to provide specific reasons for the secrecy beyond vague references to commercial confidentiality.
Bachiashvili previously said in court that Ivanishvili would not appear in person, calling this a sign of disrespect to the judiciary. The prosecution successfully petitioned for Ivanishvili’s remote participation, citing security concerns.
The motion for remote participation was filed by prosecutor Mikheil Sadradze on Monday, with Ivanishvili’s lawyer, Teimuraz Tsikvadze, also referencing his client’s security. Bachiashvili’s lawyer countered that Ivanishvili’s age and the length of the hearing were additional factors in the decision.
Tsikvadze defended Ivanishvili’s absence, highlighting security risks in a public courtroom setting. “During election campaigns, special security measures were in place for Ivanishvili. The same level of protection cannot be guaranteed in court,” he said. He dismissed suggestions that Ivanishvili was avoiding direct confrontation, stating: “The victim is not afraid to look Giorgi Bachiashvili in the eye.”
Sadradze noted that remote testimony is a common practice in many criminal cases. The court had previously closed a session on January 29 when representatives from Cartu Bank were questioned.
The prosecution’s case hinges on Ivanishvili’s claim that Bachiashvili misappropriated $5 million intended as an investment in cryptocurrency mining. The defence, however, asserts that the funds were a loan secured to finance a contract between Bachiashvili’s company, Mission Gate, and mining firm Bitfury.
Bachiashvili alleges that Ivanishvili turned against him after he refused to participate in “anti-Western propaganda.” He claims he was pressured to promote the controversial Global War Party narrative, a theory popularised by philosopher Zaza Shatirishvili.
Bachiashvili told reporters on January 23: “Before Shatirishvili published his letters, I was asked to release similar material, which I refused. I saw the creation of the ‘Global War Party’ narrative unfold before my eyes.”
