Tbilisi City Court sentences former State Security Service Head Grigol Liluashvili to 13 years in prison

Former Head of Georgia’s State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili has been sentenced to 13 years in prison by the Tbilisi City Court after being found guilty on four charges, according to the court’s verdict.

The case against Liluashvili centred on allegations that he protected criminal activities at the Preschool Management Agency, facilitated the operation of fraudulent “call centres”, and accepted bribes on two occasions allegedly arranged through Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze.

According to the prosecution, Liluashvili provided protection to criminal activities involving Kakhaber Gvantseladze, then Head of the Preschool Management Agency, as well as other agency employees.

Investigators alleged that money was collected through kickback schemes and that Gvantseladze personally delivered a portion of the proceeds to Liluashvili in exchange for protection.

Liluashvili was also accused of facilitating the activities of fraudulent “call centres”. Prosecutors claimed that Andria Liluashvili, described as a close associate of the former security chief, was directly involved in their operation.

In addition, the former State Security Service chief was charged with accepting bribes in two separate episodes through Mikautadze.

Liluashvili denies all charges against him.

He was arrested on December 23, 2025. According to Prosecutor General Giorgi Gvarakidze, the broader investigation concerned the alleged acceptance of a large bribe and the protection of fraudulent “call centres”.

Prosecutors further alleged that proceeds generated by the call centres were used to finance opposition activities.