Georgia’s Security Service: UNM’s Khabeishvili detained over bribery promises to law enforcement

The State Security Service of Georgia on Thursday announced Levan Khabeishvili, a Political Council member of the opposition United National Movement, has been detained on charges of publicly promising bribes to law enforcement officers.

The body said Khabeishvili made repeated public statements on television and social media, offering financial incentives to officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Special Tasks Department if they refused to carry out their duties during opposition-led rallies against the Government.

“He publicly promised to pay $200,000 to officers who would refrain from using legally permitted special means during protests, as well as to those who would provide him with confidential information and materials related to their official activities,” the SSSG spokesperson said during a briefing.

Khabeishvili also allegedly pledged the same sum to Special Tasks officers who would refuse to participate in training and drills. The agency emphasised that the politician had openly argued such payments were “appropriate,” as any method was justified to change the government.

The SSSG stated that Khabeishvili’s actions showed “continuous and systematic” characteristics of a crime under Article 339, Part 2 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which concerns promising or offering bribes. He was arrested on a judge’s order as a defendant.

If convicted, Khabeishvili faces four to seven years in prison.