Lasha Tsanava was offered money to provide all information to the SSS, to become a so-called agent, and to report where, why, and how Levan Khabeishvili was moving, according to Lasha Tkesheladze, the lawyer of Lasha Tsanava, a member of the United National Movement detained in a case involving attempted large-scale fraud.

According to Tkesheladze, Tsanava was detained because the State Security Service (SSS) failed to recruit him.

“Lasha Tsanava’s detention had no basis, as there is no evidence that he committed a crime. This case is politically motivated, fabricated, and today Lasha Tsanava stated that they wanted to exert pressure on Levan Khabeishvili in some way. He was offered money to provide all information to the SSS, to become a so-called agent, and to report where, why, and how Levan Khabeishvili was moving. This directly indicates that they are afraid of Levan Khabeishvili, but Lasha Tsanava did not take the money or accept the material benefits offered by the SSS. He is a person who did not betray his friend; he acted with chivalry. Today, the SSS and the prosecution have locked him up.

The offer from two high-ranking officials clearly indicates that this is a criminal offense, and the prosecution should investigate it. They wanted to influence Khabeishvili in some way, to catch him; they were interested in how and with whom Khabeishvili was moving. Because of this, the innocent Lasha Tsanava was detained, and a case was fabricated against him. They wanted to recruit him, offered him money and benefits, but Lasha Tsanava, of course, refused, and they detained him.

As Lasha Tsanava said, he was told that the current head of the SSS was very offended because Levan Khabeishvili called him ‘Fokhana,’” Tkesheladze stated.

For information, Lasha Tsanava was charged yesterday. According to the prosecution, Lasha Tsanava promised a foreign citizen that he would secure a one-year residence permit in Georgia through influential connections, demanding 5,600 USD in return.

Lasha Tsanava was detained by employees of the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service. He was charged with attempted large-scale fraud, which carries a penalty of a fine or imprisonment ranging from six to nine years.