Chikvaidze's Lawyer: On March 6-7 His Number Was Recorded on Tbilisi Towers, Not Near Sadakhlo

Lawyer Tornike Migineishvili for Giorgi Chikvaidze says that a new piece of evidence has been obtained in the convict's case, which directly contradicts one of the main grounds used for his detention. Chikvaidze was convicted of the unlawful embezzlement of a large sum of money by a group acting in prior agreement, using his official position.

According to the lawyer, on March 11, 2025, the bail imposed on Chikvaidze was replaced with pre-trial detention. One of the main grounds for this was a report from an employee of the investigative body submitted to the court. According to the report, "allegedly on the night of March 6, 2025, late into March 7, Giorgi Chikvaidze was near the village of Sadakhlo and was attempting to illegally cross the state border of Georgia". A separate investigation was launched against Chikvaidze and Irakli Papiashvili in connection with this incident. Within this case, investigators seized from them 21,800 US dollars, watches, electronic devices, a car and a mobile phone.

According to Migineishvili's explanation, from the defense's position, this phone contained information important to the case, including material that could confirm Chikvaidze's position. After joining the case, the defense obtained, within a private investigation, official data on the connection of the phone used by Chikvaidze to base stations and towers, and other information about his movements.

According to the lawyer, the data obtained shows that the number used by Chikvaidze on March 6 and 7, 2025 was recorded on towers located in Tbilisi, and not in Sadakhlo or in the area adjacent to the state border. Additional information indicates that during this period Chikvaidze and Papiashvili moved around Tbilisi in places where their movements can also be verified through numerous video cameras.

The defense has already submitted these pieces of evidence to the investigative body. The lawyer requests that they be added to the criminal case file, fully assessed, and that the investigation into the alleged attempted illegal border crossing against Chikvaidze and Papiashvili be terminated. According to him, the new circumstances will also be submitted to the European Court of Human Rights in the appropriate manner, where Chikvaidze's application regarding the use of detention against him is already pending. Additional evidence obtained in the case will be presented to the public gradually.

By the verdict of the Tbilisi City Court, Giorgi Chikvaidze and Irakli Papiashvili were found guilty under Article 182, Part 2, subparagraphs "a" and "d", and Part 3, subparagraph "b" of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Chikvaidze was sentenced to 9 years and Papiashvili to 8 years of imprisonment.