“Juansher Burchuladze stated during his arrest that he fell off his quad bike in Kakheti a few days earlier, which resulted in a mild concussion. He requested to be transferred to a medical facility, as he has been prescribed bed rest by his doctor,” the State Security Service (SSSG) announced.

“Accordingly, for obvious reasons, the SSSG Anti-Corruption Agency has chosen not to release footage of his arrest,” the agency added.

During a briefing held at the State Security Service today, it was announced that “as a result of thorough operational, investigative, and search activities, former Georgian Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze was detained under a court order on charges of abuse of official authority and the legalisation of illicit income by a person in a government or political position, involving the receipt of a particularly substantial sum of money.”