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Georgia Arrests Two Think-Tank Founders for Espionage

5/31/2026

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Summary

Georgia Arrests Spies

Georgia's State Security Service arrested Gulbaat Rtskhiladze and Irakli Chikhladze on May 30 for espionage.
Rtskhiladze, founder of the Eurasia Institute, allegedly worked with two foreign intelligence services, while Chikhladze, founder of Caucasian Center for Civil Hearings, allegedly passed Georgian political and security data to an unnamed foreign service.
Both used encrypted communications, face-to-face meetings and foreign-funded information platforms, with the case proceeding under Article 314, which carries an eight-to-twelve-year prison term.

Summary

Magradze Arrests Spy

Deputy Head of the State Security Service Lasha Magradze announced the arrest of a suspected spy on May 30, 2026.
Authorities did not disclose the suspect’s name or the foreign states he allegedly served.
Investigators allege the suspect received money in exchange for providing intelligence to foreign services.
The State Security Service said the suspect created platforms and organized events funded by foreign intelligence, and noted a rise in espionage arrests in 2026.

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Georgia Arrests Spies

Georgia's State Security Service arrested Gulbaat Rtskhiladze and Irakli Chikhladze on May 30 for espionage.
Rtskhiladze, founder of the Eurasia Institute, allegedly worked with two foreign intelligence services, while Chikhladze, founder of Caucasian Center for Civil Hearings, allegedly passed Georgian political and security data to an unnamed foreign service.
Both used encrypted communications, face-to-face meetings and foreign-funded information platforms, with the case proceeding under Article 314, which carries an eight-to-twelve-year prison term.

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