Two arrested in Georgia over supply of horse meat to kindergartens

Georgia's State Security Service has arrested two people on suspicion of large-scale fraud and document falsification after they allegedly supplied horse meat instead of beef to public kindergartens in two municipalities.

The GSSS’Anti-Corruption Agency said the arrests were made under a court warrant as part of an investigation involving public procurement contracts in Marneuli and Kareli municipalities.

According to investigators, the companies B.G.M.1 and Georgian Meat Products Farm had won tenders issued by the municipal kindergarten associations in Marneuli and Kareli to supply beef to nursery schools.

The agency alleged that in May 2026 the companies' directors deceptively delivered horse meat instead of beef, enabling them to fraudulently obtain a large amount of state budget funds under the contracts.

If convicted, the suspects face between six and nine years in prison, according to the State Security Service.