The General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia is responding to the court's verdict regarding the case involving Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze and Avtandil Tsereteli.
"Tbilisi City Court fully approved the evidence presented by the prosecution and found Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze and Avtandil Tsereteli guilty of fraudulent misappropriation of USD 16,664,000 belonging to JSC TBC Bank under Article 180 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. However, the court did not agree with the prosecution's assessment of the legal classification of the crime committed, which is why the defendants' actions were classified as fraud.
As part of the criminal case, each accused was sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment. According to the criminal procedure legislation of Georgia, they have been exempted from serving their sentences due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution for fraud.
We would like to remind the public that Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze and Avtandil Tsereteli were charged with money laundering under Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
The prosecution will appeal the court's decision to the Court of Appeals within the timeframe set by law," the Prosecutor's Office said in a statement.
Ekaterine Egutia, lawyer of Badri Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze declares, that she and her clients will appeal the decision in the courts of higher instances and the ECHR if needed.
“My clients, Georgian opposition leaders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze were acquitted of money laundering charges today. All liens against my clients’ properties dismissed, all provisional measures vacated. Trial ended. First legal battle won! Congratulations to them!
The court convicted my clients of fraud instead, a predicate crime, which is statutorily time-barred offense, with no sentence or jail time possible due to statute of limitations. We will appeal this part of the decision in the courts of higher instances and the ECHR if needed. Because there was no fraud. Because this is political persecution. Justice will prevail”, - Egutia’s letter reads.
