The Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service (SSS) has detained Valerian Kvaratskhelia, the director of B.P. Trans, along with four other individuals on charges of fraudulently embezzling more than 4 million GEL of public funds. The owner of B.P. Trans, Bichiko Paikidze, a current member of the Vani Sakrebulo representing the Georgian Dream party, will face charges in absentia under the same legislation. According to the SSS, he is in hiding.
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Bichiko Paikidze has been a member of the Vani Municipality City Council since 2017. He is connected to the head of the State Electricity Company, Grigol Liluashvili, through godparenthood (Liluashvili is the godparent of his son). It is alleged that, with Liluashvili's support, Paikidze's companies won state tenders worth tens of millions of GEL over the years. LLC “B.P. Hesi” planned to build a cascade of “Sulori 1” and “Sulori 2” hydroelectric power plants in the village of Sulori. The company is registered under Bichiko Paikidze's mother, Inga Adeishvili,
The Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Emzar Sabanadze, stated at a briefing held today, September 23, at the State Security Service that the defendants embezzled more than 4 million GEL from June 2021 to September 2022. This money was supposed to be spent on strengthening a section of the Kutaisi-Alpana-Mamisoni Pass Road, as well as individual sections in Oni damaged by the natural disaster.
“As part of joint measures conducted by the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia, in collaboration with the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia, and based on a court ruling, five individuals have been detained in connection with the appropriation of GEL 4,184,249 belonging to the state. The detainees are V.K., Director of “B.P. Trans“ LLC, I.Ch., an employee of the same company, and three employees of the supervisory company. Meanwhile, B.P., the former director and 100% shareholder of “B.P. Trans” LLC, who is currently in hiding, will be charged in absentia, and a search will be declared for him.
The case involves large-scale fraud and assistance in committing fraud. In particular, the fraudulent embezzlement of a large amount of money belonging to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia.
The investigation has revealed that from June 2021 to September 2022, B.P., the owner of 100% of the shares of “B.P. Trans” LLC, with the help of the company's director, V.K., employee I.ch., and contract supervisors, G.K., R.F., and I.G., fraudulently appropriated 4,184,249 GEL belonging to the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia. It occurred during the implementation of the works outlined in the electronic tender, specifically on the section of the highway from Kutaisi to Alpana and Mamisoni Pass, and in the Oni municipality, where the riverbank protection with boulders on certain sections was damaged by the natural disaster. This caused significant property damage to the state,” Emzar Sabanadze stated.
The investigation into the case is proceeding under Sub-point 'b' of Part 3 of Article 180 and Sub-point 'b' of Part 3 of Article 25-180 of the Criminal Code. If the crime is proven, the accused faces a sentence of 6 to 9 years' imprisonment.
As the State Security Service stated, operational-investigative measures are ongoing “to identify other possible accomplices in the crime and determine their legal qualifications.” The State Security Service is offering deals to those involved in corruption to encourage them to cooperate.
Irakli Karseladze served as Georgia’s Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure from February 22, 2021, to April 24, 2025. The Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced that Karseladze has decided to resign.
In early September, the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service arrested former Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze, a close associate of ex-Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili. Burchuladze is accused of legalising illegal/unsubstantiated income of 1,593,212 GEL.
