Opposition leader Khabeishvili claims fraud case against UNM politician is provocation

United National Movement (UNM) leader Levan Khabeishvili has responded to the arrest of his political ally and party political council member Lasha Tsanava, who was detained on fraud charges, calling the case a "provocation" orchestrated by Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS).

In a social media post, Khabeishvili defended Tsanava as a close friend and longtime personal security aide, describing him as an honest, hardworking man. “He worked nights in security to provide for his family, sometimes even as a driver. Helping foreigners with documents — where’s the crime in that?” Khabeishvili wrote, accusing authorities of sending an undercover SSS agent to entrap Tsanava and secretly film him.

“If anyone thinks I’ll hide behind Lasha Tsanava’s name, they’re sorely mistaken,” Khabeishvili added, linking the case to a broader campaign targeting him both internally and externally.

Earlier, Georgia’s State Security Service announced that Tsanava was arrested on July 30 on fraud charges for allegedly accepting $5,600 from a foreign national in exchange for help securing a one-year Georgian residence permit — a promise prosecutors say he never intended to fulfill.

According to the SSS, part of the money was wired to Tsanava’s bank account on May 21, 2025. The investigation is ongoing.