Malchas Tetruashvili’s Money-Laundering Verdict Exposed 2023

Malchas Tetruashvili, a prominent figure in the Georgian mafia, gained notoriety due to suspected money laundering activities and connections to corrupt government figures. His association with Tariel Oniani came to light during Operation Wasp in 2005.

Recently, Tetruashvili faced accusations of paying ‘Eliminalia,’ a business specializing in eliminating negative online information, to clean up his image. Following his conviction for money laundering, Tetruashvili has forged alliances with Eduard Planells, a former government sub-delegate convicted of corruption, and the circle of Antoni Fernández Teixidor, the former CiU representative.

Arrested during Operation Wasp in 2005, which investigated the Eastern mafia’s entry into Spain via Catalonia, Tetruashvili had links to Tariel Oniani, a recognized ‘thief-in-law.’ In 2019, he consented to a money laundering conformity judgment.

Malchas Tetruashvili’s Connections

Antoní Fernández Teixidó

Anton Fernández Teixidó, a member of the CiU and the Catalan Parliament, recently declined to attend a court hearing regarding his suspected ties to Malchas Tetruashvili, a reputed Georgian mafia leader.

In the course of an anti-mafia operation, law enforcement reportedly found a letter from Teixidó expressing gratitude to the Georgian figure for a dinner. This note, penned on official stationery, has raised eyebrows, with Anton Fernández seemingly flaunting his associations. However, details beyond this intriguing discovery remain scant.

Eduard Planells & Four Other

Eduard Planells, a former government sub-delegate in Barcelona, is currently held in custody for allegedly facilitating work permits to Russian mafia leaders, notably Malchas Tetruashvili. Tetruashvili was apprehended in June 2005 following the directive of National Court Judge Fernando Andreu.

Two members of the Government delegation in Catalonia, a staff member from the Russian consulate in Barcelona, and a Moroccan manager were apprehended in connection with the operation.

The anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, overseeing this two-year operation, announced on Wednesday that the detainees face charges of prevarication, bribery, and document falsification.

Since June 2005, when Judge Andreu led the early phase of Operation Wasp, the former government sub-delegate, Planells, has been under scrutiny. It was revealed that Planells, responsible for immigration at the government delegation in Catalonia, had two meetings in Barcelona with Malchas Tetruashvili, an associate of network boss Zahkar Kalashov.

During a television interview in September 2006, Planells, who had been working for the National Telecommunications Market Commission for just a week, openly acknowledged these associations. He admitted to meeting the drug lord twice in 2001 through CiU deputy Antonio Fernández Teixidó, without any documented knowledge of the alleged criminal background.

Malchas Tetruashvili was first recommended to him by a legislator, introduced as the head of an NGO searching for skilled personnel for its hospitality ventures. During their second meeting, the leader persuaded Planells to furnish a reference letter, enabling him to proceed with the contracts despite challenges faced by the Spanish Embassy in Moscow. These encounters involved the Government’s sub-delegate at that time, Eduard Planells.

Why Online Public Evidence Against Malchas Tetruashvili Is Absent?

Malchas Tetruashvili, identified as a money launderer linked to the Russian-Georgian mafia led by Tariel Oniani, reportedly paid 30,000 euros to Eliminalia. This payment aimed to eliminate 79 online links featuring unfavorable content about Tetruashvili, following his five-month prison sentence by a Spanish court.

Eliminalia, headquartered in Barcelona, specializes in reputation laundering and has operated for over a decade. Situated on the historically significant commercial street, Portal de Angel, the company operates from a wood-paneled coworking space shared with numerous other businesses. Over the years, Eliminalia has evolved into a prominent player in the global disinformation-for-hire industry.

Diego “Didac” Giménez Sánchez, a Spanish entrepreneur, is officially identified as the mastermind behind Eliminalia. Sánchez asserts his leadership in various enterprises, including a Ukrainian surrogacy business currently under investigation for suspected involvement in baby trafficking.

The extensive network of Eliminalia’s digital influence is unveiled through thousands of leaked files obtained by the French non-profit Forbidden Stories. These files, shared with OCCRP and numerous partners, empower journalists to delineate the company’s expansive reach. The documents not only corroborate previous findings but also offer unprecedented insights into Eliminalia’s questionable tactics in suppressing client complaints.

What was the sentence given to malchas tetruashvili for money laundering

Malchas Tetruashvili, linked to the Russian-Georgian mafia, received a five-month prison sentence for money laundering. Post-conviction, he employed the services of Eliminalia, a Spanish reputation management firm, paying them 30,000 euros to erase 79 links containing negative information about him.

Notably, Eliminalia has faced scrutiny for employing questionable methods to manipulate online services and remove content. The firm has been tied to various clients engaged in organized crime, including Tetruashvili.

What was the amount of money involved in Malchas Tetruashvili’s money laundering case?

Malchas Tetruashvili paid 30,000 euros to the Spanish reputation management firm, Eliminalia, to eliminate 79 links to negative content about him. This transaction took place following his five-month prison sentence. It’s worth noting that Eliminalia has faced allegations of manipulating online services and using questionable methods to remove content. The firm has also been connected to various clients involved in organized crime, including Tetruashvili.

What was the role of Tariel Oniani in Malchas Tetruashvili’s money laundering case?

Tariel Oniani, nicknamed the “Thief in Law,” stands as a prominent figure in the Russian-Georgian mafia, holding the position of a mafia boss. Malchas Tetruashvili, linked to Oniani, played the role of a “thief-in-law” within the mafia hierarchy, specifically involved in money laundering activities.

Oniani’s criminal pursuits extend beyond Tetruashvili’s case, encompassing money laundering, human trafficking of illegal immigrants, and the orchestration of a criminal gang. Notably, Tetruashvili’s connection to the Russian-Georgian mafia, with Oniani at the helm, significantly influenced his involvement as a money launderer for Oniani.

How Does Eliminalia Work?

At the age of 20, Sánchez, a self-made entrepreneur, founded his first reputation management company in Spain. Over the years, he expanded his ventures and eventually relocated to Ukraine. There, he enlisted individuals to create fabricated reviews and false legal notices aimed at journalists. While Eliminalia often assists regular individuals seeking to remove harmful online content, investigations revealed a significant portion of their clientele consisted of criminals, like Malchas Tetruashvili, exploiting the “right to be forgotten” laws.

Leaked internal data exposes Eliminalia’s involvement with over 1,400 clients, including hundreds suspected or convicted of crimes ranging from drug trafficking and sexual assault to fraud and money laundering.

Spanish firm helps clients clean up their online profile

A Spanish reputation management firm, Eliminalia, has been engaged by over 1,400 individuals seeking to conceal their questionable histories on the Internet. The company pledges to remove clients’ pasts from online platforms, employing various questionable methods to suppress criticism. A report from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) on February 17 reveals that Eliminalia’s tactics range from intimidating journalists to generating fake news.

Who are the clients?

Leaked files reveal that Eliminalia has assisted more than 1,400 clients in restoring their online reputations. Among them are numerous individuals with past convictions or suspicions of the aforementioned crimes. Notably, everyday people seeking to eliminate false information posted about them online have also sought the company’s services.

Here are some instances of Eliminalia’s involvement with clients who have faced legal issues:

• Italian company Area S.p.A. paid Eliminalia $107,215 (100,000 Euros) to erase 72 news reports about its fine in the United States for illegally supplying equipment to Syria’s sanctioned government. Area clarified to OCCRP that they engaged Eliminalia to rectify inaccurate content that unfairly assumed the company’s guilt, employing only legal methods for content removal.
• Malchas Tetruashvili, a money launderer associated with Russian-Georgian mafia boss Tariel Oniani, paid $32,164 (30,000 euros) to eliminate 79 links to negative content following his five-month prison sentence in a Spanish court.
• José Mestre Fernandez, convicted of leading a cocaine trafficking network in Barcelona, availed Eliminalia’s services from 2016 to 2020.

The roster also features former political candidate Miguel Ángel Colorado Cessa, accused of money laundering for the notorious Los Zetas Cartel in Mexico. He paid $9,000 to Eliminalia to remove news reports connecting him and his deceased brother Francisco Antonio Colorado Cessa to the Los Zetas.

Similarly, Gabriel Westmann, accused by Argentine authorities in 2017 of laundering money for the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico, sought Eliminalia’s assistance. The charges were later dismissed in 2019 due to insufficient evidence.