Georgia’s State Security Service (SSSG) says 28 people have been arrested in connection with 14 criminal cases uncovered during anti-corruption operations across nine regions.
At a July 14 briefing, Emzar Gagnidze, who heads the SSSG Anti-Corruption Agency, said the cases include allegations of bribery, forged official documents, commercial bribery, fraud involving state property and land, and abuse of official authority. The identities of those detained were not disclosed.
Procurement cases
Gagnidze said three people were arrested and 11 others charged in five cases concerning alleged misuse of public funds in procurement projects. The projects involved roads, drinking-water networks and school reconstruction in the Tsalka, Akhaltsikhe and Tetritskaro municipalities.
Investigators also allege that suppliers under separate public contracts delivered smaller quantities of Easter food products than required, as well as low-quality disinfectants, for Tbilisi kindergartens and Batumi free canteens. Authorities put the reported state losses in these cases at GEL 669,497.
Land and bribery allegations
Seven people were charged in three cases over the alleged fraudulent acquisition of state-owned land. The SSSG said municipal representatives in Dmanisi, Gurjaani and Tsalka used forged documents and abused official powers to obtain 91,564 square metres of land, causing alleged losses of GEL 397,804.
Three further arrests concern alleged bribes linked to local government offices in Lanchkhuti and Tetritskaro and the Oni Forestry Service. The agency said the alleged payments were sought in exchange for permissions or protection involving state land, an apiary and forest use.
Forged documents
Four people were arrested in three cases involving alleged production and distribution of forged documents and commercial bribery. The SSSG said the allegations include payments for forged driver’s licences, Georgian passports and bachelor’s diplomas.
All charges remain allegations while investigations and any subsequent court proceedings continue.
