Two individuals have been arrested on charges of land grabbing and the illegal construction of cottages in the Bakhmaro resort area, the State Security Service of Georgia announced during a briefing. Among those implicated is the Deputy Director of “Resort Bakhmaro.” The defendants face prison terms ranging from six to nine years.
According to the investigation, the suspects demanded $11,000 from a citizen in exchange for illegally transferring a state-owned land plot and allowing the construction of cottages without proper authorization. The accused requested an advance payment of $7,000, promising that once the payment was made, the individual would face no issues with municipal authorities during or after the illegal construction process.
On November 6, 2025, the citizen transferred the requested $7,000. Following this, the defendant met with the Deputy Director of “Resort Bakhmaro,” who was aware of the scheme. He allegedly agreed to provide protection for the illegal construction but ultimately refrained from accepting the money, reportedly due to the arrival of new municipal leadership. However, he also failed to report the criminal activity to law enforcement agencies.
The investigation revealed audio and video evidence obtained through court-authorized covert surveillance, confirming the details of the attempted fraud. The case is being investigated under Articles 19, 180 (Part 3, Subparagraph “b”) and Article 376 (Part 1) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, covering attempted large-scale fraud and failure to report a serious crime—offenses punishable by six to nine years of imprisonment.
The State Security Service emphasized that such illegal activities are common in resort areas, including Bakhmaro, where unauthorized land seizures and constructions on state property remain a challenge. The agency stated that it continues to prioritize the detection and prevention of such crimes and urged citizens to refrain from any illegal land appropriation or unpermitted construction, warning of “severe legal consequences” for violators.
