The former head of Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG), Grigol Liluashvili, has been arrested. Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze announced the news at a briefing today.
According to the Prosecutor General, Liluashvili is accused of accepting bribes in four separate episodes, two related to energy projects, one connected to a gasification project, and one involving fraudulent call centers. He is charged under Article 338, Part 2, Subparagraph (c) and Part 3, Subparagraph (e) of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which carries a sentence of 11 to 15 years in prison.
Episode 1: $1 Million Bribe for Energy Project
In October 2022, Liluashvili allegedly received a $1 million bribe from Turkish investor Chagatai Ulker. According to investigators, the bribe was delivered through Romeo Mikautadze, then First Deputy Minister of Economy, in exchange for lobbying the signing of a memorandum related to wind power plant construction.
Episode 2: Extortion in Gas Supply Tender
In February 2022, again through Mikautadze, Liluashvili allegedly demanded and extorted 1.5 million GEL from Giorgi Khazhalia, founder of Express Service 2008, in return for assistance in gasification tenders.
Episode 3: Patronage of Fraudulent Call Centers
The third episode concerns the years 2021–2023. Prosecutors state that despite the government’s crackdown on fraudulent call centers, several dozen continued operating in Georgia. Witnesses testified that most of these call centers were operated by individuals who used their profits to finance certain opposition media outlets. A smaller segment of these call centers was allegedly under the protection of Liluashvili, who managed the scheme through his relative, Sandro Liluashvili.
The investigation claims Liluashvili personally received approximately $1,365,000 in bribes via Sandro Liluashvili. Prosecutors are also examining a possible arrangement in which Liluashvili concealed the operations of opposition-linked call centers, while opposition media, in return, avoided reporting on call centers allegedly protected by Liluashvili.
Episode 4: Protecting Corruption Scheme in Kindergarten Procurement
The final episode alleges that Liluashvili used his official position to protect his friend, former director of the Tbilisi City Hall Kindergarten Management Agency, Kakha Gvantseladze. According to investigators, Gvantseladze received large kickbacks from business entities for securing procurement contracts for kindergartens. Employees of the agency’s financial and monitoring departments were also allegedly involved. All individuals have been charged.
Investigators have questioned numerous witnesses and seized various forms of evidence, including video and audio recordings, which prosecutors say confirm Liluashvili’s involvement in the crimes.
Prosecutors will request pretrial detention from the court within the legally mandated timeframe.
The investigation is ongoing with the aim of uncovering any additional crimes committed by Liluashvili and identifying and detaining other individuals involved in the alleged schemes.
“Georgian law enforcement agencies continue their work to reduce corruption to a historic minimum and prevent it to the maximum extent possible,” the Prosecutor General’s Office stated.
