Bachiashvili: I am Abducted, Imprisoned, and Tortured So Ivanishvili Can Extort Money From Me

A panel of three judges – Giorgi Keratishvili, Paata Silagadze, and Davit Mamiseishvili – is hearing the so-called "Bitcoin case" against Bachiashvili. Notably, following legislative changes on June 27, the High Council of Justice for the first time permitted TV Imedi and the Public Broadcaster to film the proceedings, a permission not granted for other cases before.

At today's hearing, Bachiashvili again spoke about his departure from Georgia and his subsequent "abduction." He stated he was forced to leave the country because he was threatened with torture in prison.

"I directly received information that they planned to torture me in prison. They said, 'they will crush you in prison'—that's exactly what they said," Bachiashvili claimed. "Precisely after those words, I decided to leave the country; I had to leave the country. And what happened after that?

They transported me for two days, blindfolded, through Abu Dhabi and Dubai, without any right to meet a lawyer, judge, or prosecutor. They then forcibly dragged me onto an Airzena plane, where Anri Okhanashvili and several other senior officials were waiting. In violation of all laws, I stand before you, abducted. I am not a prisoner today; I am a hostage, and I want you to know that.

This is consistent with all international laws. The claim that they found me in a white shirt and white shoes, having supposedly swum across a river, is a lie. I requested an investigation into this abduction back on May 29, when I had another court hearing. Not a single person, including myself, has been questioned, no recordings have been retrieved, I haven't been recognized as a victim, and no procedures have taken place.

Subsequently, when they brought me here, in captivity, they tortured me on July 11. An executioner was carefully brought from Ksani Prison – the cell door opened directly, he began swearing at me, beating me, threatening me with glass, breaking my head, cutting my hand, and I sustained many other injuries. No one has presented camera footage to us yet, nor have I been recognized as a victim. They pretend to have started an investigation. Who is the victim then, if they brought me out of there with a broken head?! When it suited them, they released camera recordings within hours. We are not discussing a case of misappropriation; we are discussing a case of extortion, my captivity, and torture. This case has nothing to do with misappropriation," stated Bachiashvili. 

Bachiashvili also discussed the "Bitcoin case" itself and the reasons, he claims, for the "political and personal revenge" against him. He stated there was no instance where he and Bidzina Ivanishvili had any joint or shared business.

"In November 2016, I repaid the loan with interest, and no one had any claims. The claim arose after I didn't follow Ivanishvili in his anti-Western rhetoric. When Zaza Shatirishvili first spread anti-Western propaganda, he wanted me to spread it. I refused.

Then he thought, 'Oh, I can make money with Bitcoin,' and he started robbing me. I was also the only person around him who condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

His place is here; his time will come. I had a good relationship with Bidzina Ivanishvili; he helped many people. So, I approached him and asked to borrow money for cryptocurrency mining, and he sent me to the bank. The bank identified risks because it was unfamiliar with the situation.

I informed Bidzina Ivanishvili in a phone conversation that there were risks, but I was familiar with this business, and the risk was low. I also mentioned that my assets were invested in this. He then told me to talk to Nato [Nato Khaindrava, Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of Cartu Bank] and that he would talk to her himself. I went to Nato that very day.

In his testimony, Ivanishvili claimed Nato convinced him to change his mind, and then he became an investor. This is a lie. When a phone recording surfaced in November, Bidzina Ivanishvili was saying he wanted to enter this business, not me. After that recording emerged, he gave a second testimony, saying he did something a father wouldn't even do to his son. He claimed he helped 'father-to-son,' meaning he 'stole' the business," Bachiashvili stated.

The court session for Bachiashvili's case was initially scheduled for July 24 but was postponed due to "technical reasons," according to his lawyer, Davit Jandieri. Jandieri suggested the new July 30 date indicated that Bachiashvili's "appearance was deemed possible for the public."

On July 14, Bachiashvili released a letter detailing alleged pressure within the penitentiary institution. He claimed that prison head Davit Gogoberishvili "amicably" advised him to reveal his bank accounts, cryptocurrency transactions, and account addresses to Bidzina Ivanishvili. After Bachiashvili refused, an unknown individual allegedly entered his cell on July 11 and inflicted multiple injuries to his head and body. Following the incident, Bachiashvili was transferred to the Vivamedi clinic, but claims he was denied the right to call his lawyer.

Giorgi Bachiashvili has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Bachiashvili was sued by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party. According to the Prosecutor's Office, Bachiashvili handed over only $536,900 to Ivanishvili from the profits of the investment, while unlawfully appropriating the remaining 8,986 bitcoins owed to the investor, valued at approximately $43 million at the time. Giorgi Bachiashvili does not consider himself guilty.

Giorgi Bachiashvili does not consider himself guilty. On March 10, before the court announced the guilty verdict, he left the country. Approximately a month and a half later, he was arrested and is currently serving his sentence in Gldani prison.