Former Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, who was convicted in a large-scale embezzlement case, may submit a petition for clemency to President Mikheil Kavelashvili.
As Burchuladze’s attorney Khatuna Khurtsilava told TV Pirveli, the former minister could file for a pardon in six months.
“We are not ruling anything out, and with God’s help, everything will likely turn out well. I do not rule out that he will appeal to (the president). No, we have not established contact with the administration yet. I believe he will not be applying just yet. One year has passed, another six months will pass, and probably after that. The law does not forbid it, so we shall see. He is glad the guys were released. Mr. Juansher is a very positive person. He has done so much good,” Khurtsilava stated.
As a reminder, in the case involving the large-scale embezzlement of Ministry of Defense funds, the court of first instance sentenced Juansher Burchuladze to 10 years, and the other co-defendants, Vasil Mkheidze and Giorgi Khaindrava, to 8 years’ imprisonment each.
In the Court of Appeals, however, Burchuladze and Mkheidze entered into a plea agreement on the grounds of their admission of guilt and cooperation with investigators. In particular, both reportedly gave testimony in a new criminal case against former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. According to Burchuladze’s testimony, out of the 1,500,000 lari received as a bribe, he kept 750,000 lari for himself and handed over 750,000 lari in person as a bribe to Garibashvili.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Burchuladze was handed a five-year prison sentence, of which he will serve three years in a penitentiary facility, with the remaining two years suspended under an equivalent probationary period. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 1,000,000 lari.
Vasil Mkheidze was sentenced to four years and two months’ imprisonment, of which he will serve one year and two months in a penitentiary facility, with three years suspended under the same probationary period. He was also fined 100,000 lari.
Giorgi Khaindrava was likewise sentenced to four years and two months’ imprisonment, of which he will serve one year and two months in a penitentiary facility, with three years suspended under the same probationary period. He was also ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 lari.