SSSG arrests UNM’s Khabeishvili for public promises of bribes to officials

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has detained Levan Khabeishvili, a member of the Political Council of the United National Movement, on charges of publicly promising monetary bribes to officials.

The State Security Service stated at the briefing that “the case concerns the public promising of monetary sums to officials in the form of bribes.”

“Specifically, a representative of one political party, Levan Khabeishvili, was spreading appeals in public space on television and social networks, promising bribes to law enforcement system employees if Ministry of Internal Affairs Special Assignment Department employees would refuse to fulfil their assigned duties during anti-government protests. Also, if they do not use the legally permitted special means at their disposal.

To anyone who might carry out such actions, Levan Khabeishvili publicly pledged to pay USD 200,000. Additionally, he openly promised a bribe of USD 200,000 to police officers who would provide various types of information and classified materials related to official activities. He offered this sum as a bribe to employees of the Special Assignment Department in exchange for their refusal to participate in training and exercises.

Levan Khabeishvili also publicly stated that he regarded paying the promised sum to police officers as a necessary measure, emphasising that any method should be employed to bring about a change of government.

Since Khabeishvili’s actions, which were continuous and systematic, exhibit all the hallmarks of the offence outlined in Part Two of Article 339 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, he was arrested by us as a suspect, following a decision by a judge. The crime envisages punishment in the form of imprisonment from 4 to 7 years,” said Emzar Gagnidze, Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service.