The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced Romeo Mikautadze, former Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, to 10 years’ imprisonment. He has additionally been barred from holding public office for a period of 2 years.

Mikautadze was found guilty on all counts brought against him.

Under the terms of the judgment, the following assets are to be confiscated: a 120 sq. m. flat in Spain, a house of 1,200 sq. m. in Tserovani, several motor vehicles, a 15% stake in Nakhiduri HPS, and items seized during searches of his property.

At the preceding hearing, Mikautadze exercised his right to make a final statement, declaring that he was prepared to “confess to a crime that does not exist, pay damages that do not exist, and enter into a plea agreement”. The Prosecution clarified that as Mikautadze had not admitted guilt, no plea agreement could be concluded.

Police detained the former First Deputy Minister on June 20, 2025. He faced charges under several articles of the Criminal Code, among them Article 333, concerning abuse of official authority resulting in the violation of the lawful rights of natural or legal persons, or of the interests of society or the state, which carries a penalty of a fine, house arrest of between 6 months and 2 years, or imprisonment of up to 3 years, with the possible additional sanction of a ban on holding office or practicing a profession for up to 3 years.

Mikautadze was further charged under Part 2 of Article 332 [abuse of official authority by a person holding a state or political position, punishable by a fine or imprisonment of between 3 and 5 years, with a ban on holding office or practicing a profession for up to 3 years].

Charges were also brought under Article 337 [founding of a commercial enterprise by a civil servant or equivalent person, or participation in its management in defiance of a prohibition, as well as the obtaining of unlawful benefits or advantages through patronage, carrying a sentence of between 6 months and 2 years’ house arrest, or 2 to 4 years’ imprisonment, with a ban of up to 3 years on holding office or practicing a profession].

Former Deputy Minister was charged under Article 194, Part 3, Subparagraph (g) of the Criminal Code, money laundering involving the receipt of proceeds on a particularly large scale, an offence punishable by 9 to 12 years’ imprisonment.