Activist Rtskhiladze and journalist Chikhladze denied accusations of espionage

Pro-Russian activist Gulbaat Rtskhiladze and journalist Irakli Chikhladze, detained in Georgia, have been charged with espionage. Both have pleaded not guilty, and their defense has stated that the two cases are unrelated.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, head of the Eurasia Institute NGO, was detained in Georgia on May 30. Investigators believe he collaborated with the intelligence services of two foreign countries. Journalist Irakli Chikhladze was also detained on the same day. An investigation has been launched under the espionage article (Article 314 of the Georgian Criminal Code).

The Prosecutor's Office has charged the detainees

Both detainees have been charged with espionage under Part 1 of Article 314 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which carries a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, the Georgian Prosecutor's Office announced on May 31.

The office noted that two criminal cases are being investigated. According to the State Security Service's Counterintelligence Department, two Georgian citizens, "for the purpose of obtaining material gain," were tasked by foreign intelligence services with systematically collecting and transmitting various types of information to the detriment of Georgia's interests.

One of the defendants also transferred some of the money he received to others who obtained intelligence, the prosecutor's office reported.

"The prosecutor's office will, within the time limit established by law, petition the court to order pretrial detention for the accused," Interpressnews quoted the agency as saying.

Rtskhiladze linked the arrest to his public activities.

Gulbaat Rtskhiladze denies the charges against him, according to his lawyer, Lasha Golubiani. "He categorically denies the accusation and says he is not a spy. On the contrary, if his activities were aimed at anything, it was to normalize relations between Russia and Georgia and prevent any war or disaster in the country," the newspaper quoted the lawyer as saying.

According to Golubiani, his client links his arrest to the creation of the "Council for Monitoring and Combating Russophobia." "This man created the 'Council for Combating Russophobia' to identify and publicize instances of Russophobia. I don't know whose interests it was not to publicize these instances; I can't say, but he himself links his arrest to this," he said.

The lawyer was unable to clarify whether Rtskhiladze was accused of espionage for Russia. "I can't confirm this at this stage, but it's likely one of the countries [Russia]. The second is likely some other country," the lawyer is quoted as saying.

There's not even circumstantial evidence

He noted that the case "contains no direct evidence confirming Gulbaat Rtskhiladze's guilt." "I can't go into detail about the evidence it contains right now, but there's nothing substantial that would constitute direct proof that Mr. Gulbaat committed any crime. Moreover, there's not even circumstantial evidence," Golubiani stated.

Chikhladze's lawyer has ruled out a connection between the two cases

Irakli Chikhladze is the founder and director of the Caucasus Institute for Human Rights and the Caucasus Center for Civil Hearings. He is known for organizing public discussions, most often on issues related to conflict resolution and regional issues. His lawyer, Giorgi Gelkhauri, stated that he and his client had reviewed the case materials and found no grounds for charges, JAMnews reported on May 31.

The lawyer noted that Chikhladze does not plead guilty, and the case materials do not indicate any connection to espionage activities or actions directed against Georgia's state interests.

With this level of evidence, they can accuse anyone.

"This is a very sad fact, because with this level of evidence, they can accuse anyone. They can just say that this person is a spy," the publication quoted Gelkhauri as saying.

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Georgi Udzilauri, who until recently led The Public Relations Department of the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia. He previously worked for the Cartu Group, owned by Bidzina Ivanishvili.

The lawyer emphasized that Chikhladze's case is unrelated to Gulbaat Rtskhiladze's; the two cases are connected only by the same criminal statute.

"These are two independent, autonomous cases, and they have no connection with each other, except that both were arrested on the same day, and the investigation was launched under the same qualifications and the same statute," Gelkhauri said.

The lawyer noted that he and his client signed a non-disclosure agreement, so he cannot name the country in whose interests Chikhladze is accused of espionage, the publication writes.