Georgia's Ex-PM Garibashvili Faces $370K Bail Demand

The Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office has requested that former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, who is accused of legalizing illegal income, be required to post bail of 1 million lari (around $370,400), Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze said at a briefing.

“The prosecution has petitioned the court to set bail for the accused [Garibashvili] in the amount of 1 million lari, which can be covered either in cash or through property,” Gvarakidze said, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

Earlier, the Prosecutor’s Office reported searches at the homes of Garibashvili, former State Security Service head Grigol Liluashvili, former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze, and eight other associates. Authorities seized over $7 million, 198 luxury items and watches, valuable paintings, thousands of pages of documents, 50 mobile phones, and 119 electronic devices. An additional $4 million was later confiscated.

Garibashvili, who served as Prime Minister from 2013-2015 and 2021-2024, also held posts as Interior Minister and Defense Minister. In 2024, he stepped down from the premiership, succeeded by Irakli Kobakhidze, and later announced his retirement from politics, though he had taken over leadership of the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party.