State Security Service detains UNM political council member Lasha Tsanava on fraud charges
30/07/2025 08:25:16 Politic, Justice
The Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia has arrested L. Ts., a member of the Political Council of the United National Movement, on charges of fraud.
As Emzar Gagnidze, the director of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia, stated at the briefing today, L. Ts. promised to secure a one-year residence permit in Georgia for a foreign citizen through his connections, and in return demanded 5,600 US dollars.
“As a result of the operational-search and investigative actions conducted by the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia, based on a court ruling, L. Ts., a member of the Political Council of the political party United National Movement, has been arrested.
The case concerns fraud, namely, the fact of fraudulently acquiring money from a foreign citizen in exchange for securing a residence permit in Georgia.
The investigation conducted at this stage has revealed that L. Ts. promised one of the foreign citizens, through his connections, to secure a one-year residence permit in Georgia, and in return demanded 5,600 US dollars from him. On May 21, 2025, the said foreign citizen transferred part of the aforementioned amount to his account at L. Ts.’s request. After that, L. Ts. systematically contacted him and insisted on paying the remaining amount. As a result, the said person gave him an additional 2,500 US dollars during meetings with L. Ts. in Tbilisi on May 30 and June 12, 2025. Thus, L. Ts. For the purpose of unlawful appropriation, he fraudulently acquired 2,650 US dollars from a foreign citizen out of the 5,600 US dollars he requested.
It is also important that, within the framework of the investigation, based on a court ruling, covert investigative actions were carried out, as a result of which audio/video evidence of the commission of the aforementioned criminal act was obtained.
An investigation is underway in connection with the aforementioned criminal act (fraud) under Article 19,180, Part 2, Subparagraph “b” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for imprisonment for a term of 4 to 7 years,” Emzar Gagnidze said.
