Former Deputy Head of State Security Service Levan Akhobadze released from courtroom on 500,000 GEL bail

Levan Akhobadze, the former Deputy Head of the State Security Service who is accused of a corruption-related crime, has been released from the courtroom on bail of 500,000 GEL.

This decision was made by Judge Nino Tarashvili of the Tbilisi City Court.

The defense filed a motion to replace the pre-trial detention measure imposed on Levan Akhobadze with release on bail, a request to which the prosecution consented.

Levan Akhobadze has also been prohibited from leaving the country until the verdict is announced.

Levan Akhobadze did not make any comments for the media.

For context, Levan Akhobadze was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service for accepting a bribe of an especially large amount. According to the investigation, the former deputy head of the State Security Service promised an entrepreneur assistance in recovering funds through intermediaries; in exchange, he demanded a bribe of 500,000 GEL, though they ultimately agreed on a payment of 250,000 GEL. The detainee has been charged under Article 338, Part 3, Sub-clause "e" of the Criminal Code of Georgia (a public official directly demanding and receiving money to perform an act in favor of the bribe-giver and to use their official authority to achieve a similar objective, committed on an especially large scale), an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of 11 to 15 years.