Detention of Kristal Group owner replaced by ₾2 mln bail

The detention of Vladimir Stepanian, owner of Kristal Group, has been replaced with bail set at two million lari, his lawyer Tamar Merlani announced.

Merlani added that her client is prohibited from crossing the border without the prosecutor’s permission.

“The preventive measure of imprisonment has been changed to bail. The amount of bail is two million lari. This proposal was submitted to the court at the request of the defence,” Merlani said. “Participation in investigative procedures is permitted if it is regarded as cooperation. However, crossing the border without the prosecutor’s consent is prohibited.”

Stepanian is under investigation for unauthorised construction and the illegal sale of properties in a hotel complex in Bakuriani.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, since 2019 Stepanian has constructed five hotel-type buildings, ski tracks, a toboggan, and chairlifts in Bakuriani without proper permits. The Bakuriani Development Agency has fined him several times for legal violations, but the penalties did not halt the construction activities.