Bitcoin, Beat, Billionaire Vendetta: The Baciassevili Incident in Georgia

A former aide to Georgian de facto leader Vidina Ivanishvili is being held as a “personal prisoner” of billionaire politician after being convicted of stealing $43 million in Bitcoin (BTC).

Jorgi Baciashvili, formerly Ivanishvili’s “right arm” was convicted in May 2025 and sentenced to 11 years in prison for misusing 8,986.86 BTC and washing his funds.

However, according to Batiashshuvili’s mother, her son is a victim of “personal revenge” by Ivanishvili, who was called “evil,” and has no humanity or empathy.

She also claims that Batiashvili was beaten violently with his cells, and now she says, “Personal prisonerof Ivanishvili, a former Prime pastor in Georgia.

“My only hope is the European institution. Giorgi is now a personal prisoner of Ivanishvili. Please help someone,” she said.

According to the Georgia Prosecutor’s Office, Baciashvili “sought to hide the illegal origins of assets that were diverted, and through various financial transactions and actions, he has allowed him to freely dispose of and use the assets he has illegally acquired.

He then fled to Abu Dhabi in the middle of trial, but was arrested after an interview with the Guardian who claimed he was punished by Ivanishvili for criticism of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

His lawyer says he was blindfolded and returned to Georgia, untold, believing he could escape from Ivanishvili.

One source close to Bachiashvili said he had been handed over to the BBC.There is no lawyer or trial at all. ”

In fact, Transparency International states that Bachiashvili’s beliefs are “without a basis for both legal and factual reasons.”

Georgian authorities target Baciashvili’s families

On the day Ramazashvili first called her son Ivanishvili’s personal prisoner, the Georgian government frozen bank accounts belonging to the pair, and frozen Batiashushuli’s father.

Read more: UK reflects US sanctions on Russian crypto networks

Now, the Georgia prosecutor’s office is expanding its investigation to determine whether his family is part of a misuse of the BTC.

The Guardian reports that Georgia’s judicial system is currently under Ivanishvili’s political control, but the country I’ve descended to a dictatorship.