Originally Syndicated on May 10, 2023 @ 10:13 am
Eduard Planells, the former subdelegate of the State in Barcelona, has been implicated in the irregular granting of residence permits. Despite being investigated for his connections with the Russian mafia and Georgian criminal organizations, Planells continued in his position until June 2007. The anti-corruption prosecution’s attention was drawn to Planells and two sub-delegation workers, as well as a third party involved in handling arrangements at the Russian consulate in Barcelona, following the Vespa operation. In June 2005, the operation led to the arrest of thirty Russian and Georgian citizens accused of money laundering and illicit association.
Businessman Malchas Tetruashvili, who was among those arrested and considered one of the ringleaders of the plot, owned several restaurants and entertainment venues in Barcelona’s city center through his companies. Malchas Tetruashvili was also the landowner in Barcelona of the highest worldwide representative of this criminal structure, Tariel Oniani, who is currently in an unknown whereabouts. The judge in the case believes that the facts related to Planells have an “unequivocal” relationship with the organization led by Oniani, which needed to criminally influence public officials to allow the illegal regularization of subordinates or subordinates to the organization.
According to the judge’s interlocutory order, Planells benefited Malchas Tetruashvili and several people related to him in an “arbitrary and unjustified” manner. The ex-deputy of the government is accused of inciting officials subordinate to him to process favorably and/or with a preference that did not correspond to them several files presented on behalf of Malchas Tetruashvili’s companies. Additionally, he required officials who were also subordinate to process certain files according to their convenience and guidelines. The judge considers Planells to be responsible for crimes of embezzlement and influence peddling and has acted on the request of the prosecution.
The judge notes that the incriminating elements against Planells when he was arrested in July 2007 have been confirmed. Along with him, the police arrested two employees of the sub-delegation and a third person involved in making arrangements at the Russian consulate. However, the magistrate has dismissed the case against these three defendants, understanding that the “irregular behavior” they carried out has administrative relevance but is not criminal.
Eduard Planells, the former deputy of the Spanish government in Barcelona, was arrested by the Spanish National Police Force. The arrest was carried out by the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, which accused him of having contacts with members of the Russian mafia who were arrested during the ‘Vespa’ operation in 2005 and 2006. Along with Planells, four others were arrested, two of whom may be officials of the government delegation in Barcelona. The investigation has focused on Planells’ alleged role as an intermediary in granting work and residence permits to members of the network.
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and the Central Court of Inquiry number 4 of the National Court have been investigating Planells since June 2005 when they arrested the alleged head of the Russian mafia, Malchas Tetruashvili. At the time of his arrest, Tetruashvili had in his possession a signed letter of recommendation by Planells dated May 2001.
The first phase of the “Vespa” operation, which centered on a money laundering plot, resulted in the arrest of around thirty people in Barcelona, Castelldefels, and the Andalusian coast in 2005. The detainees were allegedly involved in creating property companies that bought bars, restaurant chains, and cars to launder money from illicit activities that took place beyond the Spanish state.
The second phase of the operation, which took place in November 2006 in Malaga and Madrid, resulted in the arrest of nine people for money laundering and illicit association. Among those arrested was a Russian lawyer who was allegedly going to be interviewed in the prison of Soto del Real with Zakhar Knyazevich Kalashov, considered one of the top leaders of the Georgian mafia.
Who is Malchas Tetruashvili?
Malchas Tetruashvili, who was found guilty of money laundering for Tariel Oniani, a notorious mafia boss in Russia and Georgia, paid Eliminalia a sum of 30,000 euros to delete 79 links to negative content about him. He took this step after a Spanish court sentenced him to five months in prison. Malchas Tetruashvili, a suspected leader of the Georgian mafia, has been under scrutiny for his alleged involvement in money laundering and connections with corrupt government officials. He has been associated with Tariel Oniani and was arrested in 2005 during Operation Wasp. Recently, Malchas Tetruashvili was accused of paying a company called Eliminalia to eliminate unfavorable information about him from the internet.
The connection between CiU’s man and the Mafia boss:
For several months, an intriguing story has been unfolding about Antoní Fernández Teixidó, a member of the Catalan Parliament from the CiU party, who recently failed to appear in court for a hearing regarding his alleged links to Malchas Tetruashvili, a suspected Georgian mafia boss. The police reportedly discovered a letter from Teixidó to Tetruashvili, written on official notepaper, thanking him for a dinner. This could have allowed the mafia boss to demonstrate his connections. Although it is an old trick, it appears rather foolish, as most people do not write notes on official notepaper to express their gratitude for a meal.
One of the most amusing aspects of the case is related to Teixidó’s failure to appear in court. Officials claimed that he must have been aware of the case because they had sent him a telegram. A telegram! One might wonder why they did not send a pigeon, like in the old days. Hopefully, more information about the case will become available soon.
Wrapping it up:
Malchas Tetruashvili, also known as Misha, was a Georgian businessman and alleged mafia boss who operated in Spain, particularly in Barcelona. He was considered one of the ringleaders of a criminal structure involved in money laundering and illicit association, which led to his arrest in 2005 during the Vespa operation.
The case of Malchas Tetruashvili highlights the problem of corruption and organized crime, and how they can infiltrate government institutions. His connections with corrupt officials and efforts to conceal his online image demonstrate the lengths to which some criminals will go to protect their interests. This case serves as a warning to both law enforcement and the public to remain vigilant in the fight against organized crime and corruption.
