On the morning of October 24, Giorgi Noniashvili, a politician and co-founder of the newly established Federalist Party, announced on Facebook that the Ministry of Finance had searched his home, seizing electronic devices belonging to him, his wife, and even their minor child. 

His wife, Sopo Gelava, an Atlantic Council employee, reported that the Ministry's Investigative Service claimed to investigate alleged tax evasion by a company contracted by the Atlantic Council for employment services. She emphasized that her work at the Atlantic Council involves researching disinformation and Russian influence in Georgia, particularly regarding interference before the parliamentary elections.

The Ministry of Finance also conducted a search at the residence of Eto Buziashvili, another Atlantic Council employee. Buziashvili said the officials misled her by claiming they were from a gas company checking for technical issues. Buziashvili was summoned for questioning, where she stated, “The only thing they mentioned is that they are interested in my organization, the Atlantic Council, an American non-governmental organization. We are studying Russian information operations in detail.” She added that her technical devices, including her laptop, were confiscated. Buziashvili highlighted that her work, which focuses on Russian interference in Georgia’s elections, had been disrupted as a result.

Media reports indicate that the case is being investigated under three criminal articles: money laundering, fraud, and tax evasion. 

The Ministry of Finance has maintained that the searches are related to the call center case under investigation, stating, “We are dealing with finance on a much larger scale.” The Ministry added that some individuals working in the facilities are connected to criminal call centers identified in the past. Their statement also noted that investigators found and confiscated various equipment, devices, and documents containing electronic information in accordance with legal procedures.