Former State Security Service deputy head released on ₾500,000 bail

Levan Akhobadze, former deputy head of Georgia’s State Security Service under Grigol Liluashvili, has been released from the courtroom on GEL 500,000 bail.

The decision was made by Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Tarashvili. The defence had requested that Akhobadze’s pretrial detention be replaced with bail.

Akhobadze has also been barred from leaving Georgia until the verdict is delivered. The hearing was held behind closed doors.

Akhobadze was detained in May and charged with accepting an especially large bribe. According to investigators, he allegedly demanded GEL 500,000 from an entrepreneur in exchange for assistance in recovering money confiscated at the Larsi customs checkpoint. The investigation said the amount was ultimately reduced to GEL 250,000, which was allegedly handed over through an intermediary.