17.08.2026 / 14:01
According to prosecutor Mariam Berdzenishvili, the former Deputy Minister of Economy, Romeo Mikautadze, would go to the State Security Service and hand over money to the former head of the State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili. According to the prosecutor, the transfer of money from Mikautadze to Liluashvili took place in the office. The prosecutor told journalists about this before the start of the court hearing in the case against Grigol Liluashvili.
According to the prosecutor’s explanation, Romeo Mikautadze, who is a witness in the case against Liluashvili, also spoke about the fact that he would go up to the relevant office after the pass check and other procedures.
“One of the businessmen has been questioned, who substantively, essentially and in meaning recorded before the court exactly the same information that witness Romeo Mikautadze spoke about at the previous hearing. Accordingly, one of the circumstances that confirms the accuracy and reliability of the information provided by Romeo Mikautadze is this. In addition, when speaking about the period when the money was handed over directly to Grigol Liluashvili by Romeo Mikautadze, relevant information has been requested from the respective companies and, through the study of their mobile phone and internet traffic, it has been established that they were in the same place during the same period. In addition, the prosecution has also requested documentation on the issues related to the fact of the bribe transfer,” Mariam Berdzenishvili stated.
According to her explanation, the main thing is that there is direct evidence which is corroborated by other evidence, and there is no objective basis for casting doubt on it.
“As for the circumstance that another witness who physically witnessed the transfer of the money… I would remind the defence that we are talking about the demand and transfer of a bribe, and naturally, such criminal acts do not take place publicly, openly and in a format with as many people present as possible. (The transfer of the money) this took place in the building of the State Security Service,” the prosecutor stated.
To a journalist’s question whether Romeo Mikautadze himself would go to the State Security Service and hand over the money to Grigol Liluashvili, the prosecutor replied: “Yes, sir. As the witness states, that is how it is.”
“The witness also spoke about the fact that he would go up to the relevant office after the pass check and other procedures. By the way, in this regard other persons have been questioned who had previously been with Grigol Liluashvili himself; their procedure for going up… Also, the procedure for going up is recorded by security members, that this did not necessarily happen with a pass, a search, etc. That is, it fully depended on the accused how he would bring a visitor to himself. Accordingly, these circumstances and many other factual circumstances are precisely what corroborate the information provided by the witness to be questioned today (Romeo Mikautadze).
As the witness (Romeo Mikautadze) stated, he explained to the businessmen that this was based on the interests of the state. This was also confirmed by one of the businessmen during questioning. This circumstance was packaged as a state interest, however this was only a name and, of course, it was clear as day to all persons involved in this process that all of this did not serve any state interest whatsoever,” Berdzenishvili stated.
According to the prosecutor’s explanation, the transfer of money from Mikautadze to Liluashvili took place in the office.
“Yes, sir, he had it in a bag (the money). As for being in the building, we questioned a security employee who confirms that, for example, he had seen Romeo Mikautadze on the same floor,” the prosecutor stated.
She answered the question of whether Romeo Mikautadze might also end up as a defendant, since according to the investigation he was taking the money to Liluashvili:
“The involvement of many persons is emerging in this case. I cannot prematurely call something a crime until criminal prosecution has been initiated against this or that person in general, and I cannot call a specific act a crime, even with regard to Grigol Liluashvili. I am speaking according to the standard of reasonable suspicion. In general, if the standard emerges in any case, criminal prosecution may be initiated. As for the information provided by Romeo Mikautadze, this is called cooperation. It has also been voiced at the process that this person is supposedly cooperating in order to receive benefits, and this issue is packaged as if cooperation is a separate crime – of course not. Cooperating with the investigation, telling the truth in court – all of this is highly commendable and, accordingly, the legislation provides that any cooperation, sincere confession or provision of information must necessarily be taken into account when making a decision. (Charging Mikautadze) I do not rule it out; I have simply described the circumstance that the defence packages as if this is a special case. I want to emphasize that the actions of every person will receive a decision within the framework of the law and justice in accordance with the law, in accordance with the decisions they have made and the degree of their cooperation with the investigation,” Mariam Berdzenishvili stated.
