Former security official denied bail: Russian spies wanting to overthrow Patriarch behind arrest

Former security official denied bail: Russian spies wanting to overthrow Patriarch behind arrest

Soso Gogashvili, former Deputy head of Georgia’s State Security Service, who was denied bail earlier on Monday, claimed he was arrested as he exposed Russian spies who were trying to overthrow the Patriarch.

 

At a trial hearing on preventive measures in Tbilisi City Court on July 18, Gogashvili said that it was a “historic day” as charges were filed against him, “against Georgian lieutenant colonel,” per the accusations of “Russian spies, who will now try to discredit the court.”

 

Gogashvili, who was arrested in his home on July 16 with the presence of his family, claimed that he was a victim of inhuman and degrading treatment in the process of detention and transportation.

 

The following trial in the case was scheduled on September 8.

 

The former security official, who held the post between 2015 and 2018 under the Georgian Dream authorities, was charged with abuse of authority, illegally obtaining, storing, distributing personal data and illegal purchase and storage of firearms and ammunition.

 

 Footage depicting his arrest was filmed by his wife and released on social media.

 

The family insisted that the law enforcement planted firearms, documents and various information items, including a laptop and memory cards during the search.

 

Gogashvili’s lawyer said that the “arrest on political grounds” was related to Gogashvili’s plans to publicize information about  the “voter fraud”,” the materials “which are now abroad and will be released anyway in the coming days.”

 





Soso Gogashvili, former Deputy head of Georgia’s State Security Service, who was denied bail earlier on Monday, claimed he was arrested as he exposed Russian spies who were trying to overthrow the Patriarch.

 

At a trial hearing on preventive measures in Tbilisi City Court on July 18, Gogashvili said that it was a “historic day” as charges were filed against him, “against Georgian lieutenant colonel,” per the accusations of “Russian spies, who will now try to discredit the court.”

 

Gogashvili, who was arrested in his home on July 16 with the presence of his family, claimed that he was a victim of inhuman and degrading treatment in the process of detention and transportation.

 

The following trial in the case was scheduled on September 8.

 

The former security official, who held the post between 2015 and 2018 under the Georgian Dream authorities, was charged with abuse of authority, illegally obtaining, storing, distributing personal data and illegal purchase and storage of firearms and ammunition.

 

 Footage depicting his arrest was filmed by his wife and released on social media.

 

The family insisted that the law enforcement planted firearms, documents and various information items, including a laptop and memory cards during the search.

 

Gogashvili’s lawyer said that the “arrest on political grounds” was related to Gogashvili’s plans to publicize information about  the “voter fraud”,” the materials “which are now abroad and will be released anyway in the coming days.”