Ex-Georgian Defense Minister sentenced to 10 years in prison in corruption case

The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced former Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze to 10 years in prison. He was found guilty of money laundering and abuse of office. This was announced on April 23 by Rustavi-2 TV channel.

"The court found guilty former Defense Minister Khuansher Burchuladze, his former deputy Georgy Khaindrava, Burchuladze's wife's son—in-law Vasily Mheidze and former head of the procurement department of the Ministry of Defense Vladimir Gudushauri," the publication says.

The defendants in the case, Vasil Mheidze and Georgy Khaindrava, received eight years in prison each. The ex-minister's property is also being confiscated: a house with land in Spain, as well as a house, parking lot and land in Tbilisi.

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On September 13, 2025, a court in Georgia arrested former Defense Minister Burchuladze, who is accused of abuse of power and legalizing illegal income. It was noted that in 2023, he provided the military hospital with equipment, the amount of which amounted to over $966 thousand instead of $ 1.4 million. At the same time, the damage to the ministry reached more than $483 thousand. In addition, this year he and his wife bought real estate in Spain and signed a fictitious purchase and sale agreement in Tskhinvali in order to conceal the origin of the property.