Levan Akhobadze continues to exercise his right to silence to this day. As of today, the evidence presented in the case does not meet the standard required for a person to be placed in pre-trial detention, – stated Razhden Kuprashvili, the lawyer of Levan Akhobadze, the former Deputy Head of the State Security Service, who is detained on charges of bribery, to journalists in court before the start of the hearing.

According to him, there is no confession in the case because Levan Akhobadze considers himself innocent.

“Today the issue of reviewing the measure of restraint is being considered. We have our position on why this motion should not be granted. We will present this position. Levan Akhobadze continues to exercise his right to silence. We are waiting to see what additional evidence will be presented regarding the case. As of today, the evidence presented in the case does not meet the standard required for a person to be placed in pre-trial detention.

Naturally, there is no confession in the case because he considers himself innocent in relation to this charge,” Kuprashvili noted.

When asked how many testimonies are in the case against Akhobadze, Kuprashvili said that “there are not that many.”

For information: The former Deputy Head of the State Security Service (SSS), Levan Akhobadze, was detained by the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service. Akhobadze is charged with accepting a particularly large bribe.

According to the investigation, the former Deputy Head of the State Security Service, through intermediaries, promised a businessman assistance in returning money, in exchange for which he demanded a bribe of 500,000 GEL, although they ultimately agreed on the transfer of 250,000 GEL.

The detainee has been charged under Article 338, Part 3 (e) of the Criminal Code of Georgia (demanding and receiving money directly by an official in order for the official to perform an action in favor of the bribe-giver and to use his official authority to achieve a similar purpose, committed in a particularly large amount), which provides for imprisonment from 11 to 15 years.