Georgian Prosecutor’s Office charges official with large-scale bribery

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged one individual with accepting a particularly large bribe, the body said on Saturday.

According to the investigation conducted by the State Security Service’s Anti-Corruption Agency, the deputy state representative of the Dusheti, Tianeti, Mtskheta, and Kazbegi municipalities promised a foreign citizen to reclassify several land plots from agricultural to non-agricultural status. In exchange, the official allegedly demanded a bribe of $400,000, part of which — $80,000 — was received on September 5.

The crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The Prosecutor’s Office announced it will petition the court within the legal timeframe to impose pre-trial detention as a preventive measure.