The Tbilisi City Court is beginning a substantive hearing in the bribery case against former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

His lawyer, Soso Baratashvili, said that Garibashvili will personally attend the hearing, scheduled for 4:00 p.m. (GMT+4). The parties are expected to deliver their opening statements, according to interpressnews.ge.

The Georgian Prosecutor's Office accuses Garibashvili of accepting a particularly large bribe as part of a group, using his high-ranking state and political position.

If convicted, the former prime minister faces between 11 and 15 years in prison.

Garibashvili was previously convicted of laundering particularly large amounts of illegal income. Under a plea agreement, he was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 1 million Georgian lari (approximately $370,000).