The lawyers of former boxer Giorgi Kandelaki, who was detained on charges of illegal production of alcohol and untaxed cigarettes by an organized group, are requesting the court to set a 100,000 GEL bail for him.
The lawyers are also proposing additional restrictive measures alongside bail, such as surrendering his passport, reporting to investigative authorities, and so on.
Lawyer Lana Tsertsvadze emphasized Kandelaki’s past and reputation, noting that he has no prior convictions and has represented the country multiple times.
“Giorgi Kandelaki is here based on the testimony of Boris Gogichaishvili [member of Gori City Assembly]. Gogichaishvili couldn’t even read it, let alone follow it. The only reason Kandelaki is in detention is the interrogation record of Boris Gogichaishvili. The man, due to his health condition, cannot speak or read this—how can this become the basis for someone’s arrest and pretrial detention?
There is no record of any transfer of funds from Giorgi Kandelaki to Boris Gogichaishvili… Not a single bottle has left the specific location or been sold, so what benefit are we even talking about? Mr. Giorgi hasn’t even been present on site,” Tsertsvadze stated.
Another of Kandelaki’s lawyers, Gagi Mosiashvili, said that there are no grounds for applying the strictest preventive measures against him. According to the lawyer, there is no risk of Kandelaki committing a new crime or fleeing. He explained that Kandelaki is a businessman with a legal business and has much to lose if he escapes from Georgia.
“The accusation comes out as ‘everyone goes to jail,’” Mosiashvili said.
He added that the 100,000 GEL bail would address the prosecution’s unsubstantiated, but existing, concerns.
Mosiashvili, along with his colleague, also proposed other restrictive measures for Kandelaki. He highlighted Kandelaki’s personality and role in the sports community, noting that world-famous boxer Lennox Lewis is visiting him at Kandelaki’s invitation.
For reference, the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance seized 75,137 bottles of alcoholic beverages and 318,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes, leading to the arrest of seven individuals, including Giorgi Kandelaki. They were charged under Article 200, Parts 3 and 4 of the Criminal Code (illegal production and storage of excise goods without excise stamps by an organized group, involving large quantities), and Article 196, Part 3 (production of goods unlawfully marked with another’s trademark or registered brand), punishable by seven to ten years of imprisonment.
According to the investigation, since 2022, the defendants created an organized criminal group to illegally gain financial profit. They had set up infrastructure and full technical equipment on a leased plot in Gori to manufacture and store excise goods—whiskey and vodka—without the required excise stamps for later sale.
Those detained are: Giorgi Kandelaki, Boris Gogichaishvili, Tengiz Gulordava, Aleko Kurtanidze, Kartlos Jalabadze, Giorgi Bibilashvili, and Giorgi Kavtaradze.
Lawyer: There is no record of any transfer of funds from Giorgi Kandelaki to Boris Gogichaishvili, not a single bottle has been sold, so what benefit are we even talking about? Kandelaki hasn’t even been present on site
