**Former Defense Ministry Official’s Lawyer Seeks Bail for Client**
In a Georgian court, the lawyer of Vladimer Ghudushauri, a former head of the Ministry of Defense’s Procurement Department, is pushing for his client’s release on a 100,000 GEL bail. Dimitri Mchedlishvili, Ghudushauri’s attorney, presented this motion in court moments ago.
**Prosecution Demands Harsh Measures**
However, the prosecution has strongly opposed this request. Prosecutor Irakli Marshania argued that there are solid grounds for applying preventive measures against the detainees. According to Marshania, the accused individuals pose a risk of committing new crimes, absconding, or influencing witnesses. The prosecutor also pointed out that several investigative actions still need to be conducted, including questioning former colleagues and individuals connected to them.
**Concerns Over Potential Flight**
Marshania further emphasized that the detainees have crossed the state border multiple times, which raises concerns about their potential attempt to flee due to fear of punishment. Since the offense in question carries a sentence of 7 to 11 years without alternative, the prosecutor believes this could motivate the accused individuals to escape justice.
**Defense Disagrees with Prosecution**
The defense team, led by Dimitri Mchedlishvili, has disputed the prosecution’s arguments, calling them unjustified and abstract. They argue that releasing Ghudushauri on bail would not pose a significant risk to the investigation or public safety.
**Background of the Case**
Ghudushauri and two other individuals, Vasil Mkheidze and Giorgi Khaindrava, were officially charged yesterday with large-scale misappropriation of funds. The investigation concerns the misuse of official positions and resources within the Georgian Ministry of Defense. According to the charges, a group of individuals, including Ghudushauri and Khaindrava, created a non-competitive environment through deliberate actions during the procurement process for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, leading to the misappropriation of 1,333,728 GEL.
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