Arrested businessman accuses Georgian Gov’t of coercing false testimony against US Embassy

Georgian businessman Giorgi Chikvaidze, currently in pre-trial detention, has accused the Georgian Dream government of attempting to coerce him into making false statements implicating the United States Embassy in illegal political activities.​

Chikvaidze was arrested on 11 March 2025 on charges of embezzling over one million Georgian Lari through his company, Ramzes Georgian Yachting Platform. The allegations involve accepting funds for a yacht that was never delivered.

Prior to his arrest, Chikvaidze publicly claimed to possess compromising information about Bidzina Ivanishvili, the former Prime Minister and founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party. He alleged that he had been receiving death threats due to this information.
In a letter shared on social media on Wednesday, Chikvaidze said that following his arrest, he was pressured by authorities to falsely claim that the US Embassy had directed him to organize pro-European rallies and engage in other illicit activities. He described this as “a crime against the US state” and expressed his willingness to cooperate with American investigative bodies.​

Chikvaidze has also raised concerns about his safety in detention, alleging that he faces the risk of being targeted by Russian security services. He began a hunger strike on 12 March, which he temporarily suspended following appeals from supporters.