Corruption is a challenge for the whole world and the fight against it is very important, - Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze told journalists in response to a question about the investigation ongoing against the former head of the State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili.

“We cannot say anything more than what we have heard from the relevant agency. The investigation is ongoing in all directions. In the interests of the investigation, I will not say anything additional. Let's wait for the investigation and all questions will be answered. In general, we welcome the fight against corruption. This is one of the most important directions. This is a challenge all over the world and, of course, it is pleasant that the relevant agencies are taking concrete steps to prevent it and if someone has committed any crime, appropriate actions will be taken,” said Kakha Kaladze.

For information, the former head of the State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili, is accused of taking bribes, 2,365,000 USD and 1,500,000 GEL, in several criminal cases. More specifically, the investigation accuses him of 4 episodes, in two of which the former Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, detained Romeo Mikautadze, appears together with him. According to the first episode, Liluashvili took 1 million USD as a bribe from Turkish investor Chagatai Ulker through Romeo Mikautadze in exchange for lobbying for the signing of a memorandum of understanding related to the construction of wind power plants. According to the second episode, Liluashvili, again through Romeo Mikautadze, extorted 1 million five hundred thousand GEL from Giorgi Khazhalia, the founder of the company Express Service 2008, in exchange for assistance in gasification tenders.

According to the third episode, Liluashvili patronized a small number of call centers, which he carried out through his relative, Sandro Liluashvili. As a result of the above-mentioned criminal activity, Grigol Liluashvili received approximately 1,365,000 USD in bribes through Sandro Liluashvili. According to the prosecutor's office, the vast majority of the above-mentioned call centers belonged to a group of individuals who financed various opposition media outlets with the proceeds. According to the fourth episode, in exchange for taking bribes, Grigol Liluashvili patronized his friend, the former director of the Tbilisi City Hall’s Kindergarten Management Agency, Kakha Gvantseladze, who received particularly large amounts of bribes for the signing of procurement contracts with entrepreneurial entities.

Grigol Liluashvili is charged under Article 338, Part 2, Subparagraph “c” and Part 3, Subparagraph “e” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which involves taking a bribe in a particularly large amount by a group by prior agreement and provides for a sentence of 11 to 15 years of imprisonment.