Former deputy head of Georgia’s State Security Service arrested on bribery charges
Akhobadze allegedly became aware in April 2024 that a private entrepreneur had been deprived of 40 million roubles, equivalent to about 1.16 million lari at the time, at the Larsi border crossing between Georgia and Russia after customs officials determined the money had not been properly declared
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Front News Georgia
Georgia’s State Security Service said its anti-corruption agency had arrested former deputy head of the agency Levan Akhobadze on charges of accepting a particularly large bribe.
Speaking at a briefing on Friday, officials said the investigation was being conducted under article 338 of Georgia’s criminal code, which carries a prison sentence of between 11 and 15 years.
Akhobadze allegedly became aware in April 2024 that a private entrepreneur had been deprived of 40 million roubles, equivalent to about 1.16 million lari at the time, at the Larsi border crossing between Georgia and Russia after customs officials determined the money had not been properly declared.
Under Georgian law, transporting more than 100,000 lari in cash across the customs border without proper declaration may result in a fine amounting to 10% of the sum or confiscation of the funds.
The State Security Service said the businessman had formally appealed to the revenue service seeking the return of the money after paying the legally required fine, but was initially refused.
Investigators alleged that Akhobadze, who at the time served as deputy to then State Security Service chief Grigol Liluashvili, later contacted the businessman through intermediaries and offered assistance in recovering the confiscated funds.
According to the agency, the businessman eventually regained the money on 30 April 2024 after paying the statutory fine. Prosecutors alleged Akhobadze then demanded a 500,000 lari bribe in exchange for his assistance.
The agency further claimed that, following the involvement of then security service chief Grigol Liluashvili, the requested amount was reduced to 250,000 lari, which was allegedly handed over to an intermediary before being delivered to Akhobadze in his office on the same day.
Authorities said the investigation was continuing to identify other possible participants in the alleged scheme and to determine whether similar offences had been committed.
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