Ex-MP Released,but Assets Confiscated

Former parliamentarian Bondo Shalikiani, who was arrested for illegal possession of arms and misappropriation of funds, was released early on July 22, after paying around USD 100,000 and handing over his assets to the state.

According to the General Prosecutor’s Office criminal charges were dropped against Shalikiani after he pleaded guilty and agreed to reimburse the allegedly misappropriated funds.

Amendments to the Georgian criminal code, passed by the Parliament in January, allow prosecutors to release alleged corrupt officials, or mitigate their punishment, if they cooperate with the investigation or agree to reimburse misappropriated funds.

Bondo Shalikiani was an influential oil monopolist in Kutaisi before he was arrested in March. He was elected as an MP for the Tkibuli single-mandate constituency, which is near Kutaisi, in last November’s parliamentary elections; however his MP credentials were revoked by the Central Election Commission after his arrest.

Initially he was charged with illegal procession of arms, however later the investigating officers further accused him of misappropriation of funds.

Shalikiani’s confiscated assets include, among other real estate, a network of 20 gas stations in western Georgia, two oil processing plants and a meat factory, as well as shares in the Automobile Construction Enterprise in Kutaisi.

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