Former security chief denies bribery allegations, lawyer

The lawyer for former Georgian State Security Service chief Grigol Liluashvili has denied allegations that her client accepted bribes, saying there is no evidence linking him to the case under investigation.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, defence lawyer Lana Tsertsvadze said Liluashvili had “never taken a bribe from anyone”, including from Kakhaber Gvantseladze.

Tsertsvadze also said it had not yet been proven whether Gvantseladze himself had accepted any illicit payments.

According to the lawyer, case materials did not show any cooperation or direct connection between Liluashvili and Gvantseladze, beyond the possibility that the two men may have known each other.

“There is physically no evidence in the case materials exposing Liluashvili in the so-called kindergarten episode,” she said.

Tsertsvadze criticised prosecutors for bringing charges against her client, arguing that he had no involvement in the alleged offences being investigated. She added that the defence had not been provided with a list of witnesses expected to testify.

The lawyer said she could not discuss details of the investigation because defence attorneys had signed non-disclosure agreements.

The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia arrested Liluashvili on 23 December 2025.

According to prosecutors, he is charged under Article 338 of Georgia’s Criminal Code with accepting an especially large bribe as part of an organised group. The offence carries a possible prison sentence of between 11 and 15 years.