A Tbilisi court on Wednesday handed former security service chief Grigol Liluashvili a 13‑year prison term after convicting him of multiple bribery offenses. Liluashvili, who led Georgia’s State Security Service from 2019 to 2025 and previously served in parliament, was arrested in December following raids on his home and the residences of a former prime minister and an ex‑prosecutor general.

The prosecutor‑general’s office said Liluashvili accepted $1.3 million in bribes and benefited from scam call centres operating out of Georgia. He denied the accusations, but the court found the evidence sufficient for conviction.

Broader anti‑corruption push

The sentencing is part of a wider crackdown on senior officials linked to the ruling Georgian Dream party. The raids also targeted former prime minister Irakli Garibashvili, who pleaded guilty to large‑scale money‑laundering charges and received a five‑year sentence in January.

Georgian Dream, founded by billionaire former prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, remains in power after the October 2024 parliamentary election, though the country has faced regular street demonstrations demanding greater transparency and democratic reforms.

Political context

While the government pursues prosecutions of elite figures, it is simultaneously seeking to ban three major opposition parties. Critics argue the moves reflect an authoritarian turn, whereas supporters claim they are necessary to root out entrenched corruption.

International observers have noted a decline in Georgia’s democratic standing since the war in Ukraine began, with the European Union expressing concern over the country’s political direction.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.