The Protector’s Fall: Georgia’s Security Chief Arrested in $35M Global Fraud Scandal
The former head of Georgia’s State Security Service has become the central figure in a major corruption scandal tied to an international fraud scheme. Georgian prosecutors allege that Grigol Liluashvili spent several years accepting bribes in exchange for protecting call centers that defrauded victims around the world.
According to investigators, Liluashvili faces four corruption charges, including the acceptance of substantial payments linked to public tenders and private business interests. In a pivotal episode spanning 2021 to 2023, he is accused of shielding a network of fraudulent call centers and, through the intermediation of a relative, Sandro Liluashvili, receiving approximately $1.365 million in return. If convicted, the former security chief could face up to 15 years in prison.
The case drew widespread attention following the publication of an international investigation titled Empire of Deception, produced by OCCRP in collaboration with Sweden’s SVT and other media outlets. The report detailed a call center in Tbilisi located just meters from the State Security Service headquarters. Staffed by more than 85 employees, the center allegedly generated over $35 million for its operators from more than 6,000 victims worldwide since May 2022.
In the wake of the investigation, prosecutors seized assets linked to the call center and later detained a German national who had worked there, whose extradition was sought by German authorities. In October, as part of the same case, law enforcement conducted searches at the homes of a former prime minister, a former prosecutor general, and Liluashvili himself. That same month, his cousin Sandro Liluashvili was arrested on charges of fraud and money laundering.
Prosecutors have declined to disclose which specific call centers Liluashvili allegedly protected, citing the ongoing investigation. The accused, who appeared for questioning, told reporters that he was encountering such proceedings for the first time and was unaware of the nature of the case. His lawyer confirmed that the defense has not yet reviewed the case materials and is therefore unable to comment substantively on the allegations.
Liluashvili is a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Independent media had previously reported on his alleged involvement in shielding fraudulent schemes, accusations he successfully challenged in court at the time. The current arrest, however, may signal a significant weakening of his standing within Georgia’s political elite.
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