UNM claims party member arrest part of political pressure campaign on its leader

The United National Movement (UNM) has accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of using the recent arrest of its political council member, Lasha Tsanava, to exert pressure on opposition leader Levan Khabeishvili.

Tbilisi City Court om Friday ordered pre-trial detention for Tsanava following his arrest on 29 July by the State Security Service on charges of fraud.

According to the agency, Tsanava allegedly defrauded a foreign national by promising to secure a one-year residence permit in Georgia in exchange for $5,600. Part of the money was reportedly transferred to his account on 21 May 2025.

Authorities claimed that Tsanava never fulfilled the promise and instead misappropriated the funds.

UNM representative Ana Tsitlidze has alleged that the case against Tsanava was politically motivated and aimed at silencing Khabeishvili, the current leader of the UNM. “Tsanava’s arrest is directly linked to the pressure being exerted on Levan Khabeishvili,” she said. “Georgian Dream will not succeed in dragging Lasha into a political game.”

Tsitlidze questioned the legality and timing of the arrest, noting that the operation was carried out by the State Security Service (SSSG) instead of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which typically handles such cases. She argued that this, along with the public release of video evidence allegedly showing a bribe being accepted, raised serious doubts about the legitimacy of the investigation. 

During the court hearing, Tsanava claimed that a high-ranking political figure approached him while he was being held in custody and offered him his freedom and a large sum of money in exchange for secretly recording his "close friend and political ally," Levan Khabeishvili.

“They wanted revenge on Khabeishvili,” Tsanava said. “They offered me money ad freedom to spy on his every move - but for me, friendship and dignity come first.”

“The upcoming trial will be very telling,” Tsitlidze added. “We stand firmly behind Tsanava. He is a loyal and courageous individual who has protected others at great personal risk in the past. We are confident he cannot be used against his will.”