Bitcoin, beatings, and a billionaire’s vendetta: Georgia's Bachiashvili case
A former aide to Georgian de facto leader Bidzina Ivanishvili is being held as a “personal prisoner” of the billionaire politician after being convicted of stealing $43 million worth of bitcoin (BTC). Giorgi Bachiashvili, who had previously been Ivanishvili’s “right-hand man,” was convicted in May 2025 and sentenced to 11 years in prison for misappropriating 8,986.86 BTC and laundering the funds. However, according to Bachiashvili’s mother, her son is the victim of a “personal vendetta” by Ivanishvili who she has called “evil,” and says is without humanity or empathy. She also claims that Bachiashvili has been violently beaten in his cell and is now the “ personal prisoner ” of Ivanishvili, Georgia’s ex-prime minister, who still reportedly controls the country. “My only hope is the European institutions. Giorgi is now Ivanishvili’s personal prisoner. I ask, for someone to help, please,” she said. Acco...