A court has sentenced opposition United National Movement (UNM) member Levan Khabeishvili to two years and six months in prison after reclassifying the charge against him from offering a bribe to sabotage.
Judge Irakli Khuskivadze announced the ruling, stating that the charge had been reclassified under Part 1 of Article 318 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns actions aimed at obstructing the normal functioning of state institutions with the intent of weakening the state. Khabeishvili was not present at the hearing.
Khabeishvili was detained by the State Security Service on September 11, 2025, initially on charges of publicly promising monetary payments to officials in the form of bribes.
Investigation argues that Khabeishvili publicly disseminated appeals through television and social media, allegedly promising USD 200,000 to law enforcement personnel if members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Special Task Force refused to carry out their duties or refrained from using legally authorized special means during anti-government demonstrations.
Investigators also claimed that Khabeishvili promised the same amount to police officers in exchange for confidential information and classified materials related to their official duties, as well as to Special Task Force personnel in return for refusing to attend training sessions and exercises.
In addition, Khabeishvili has been charged under Article 317 of the Criminal Code, which concerns public incitement to the overthrow of state power. Prosecution says from June 2025 onward, he systematically called on citizens through television broadcasts and social media to violently overthrow state authority, including by specifying dates and locations for such actions.
In a related case, the court sentenced another UNM member, Murtaz Zodelava, to nine months in prison.
Judge Irakli Khuskivadze announced the ruling, while Zodelava also did not attend the hearing.
Investigators say Zodelava unlawfully interfered with the work of a State Security Service investigator by allegedly attempting to obstruct a full and objective investigation through concealing Khabeishvili’s mobile phone, which authorities said was subject to a court-approved search warrant.
Zodelava was charged under Article 364(1) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which concerns unlawful interference in an investigator’s activities aimed at obstructing a comprehensive and objective investigation. The offense carries a sentence of up to one year in prison.
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