Georgian authorities have detained the country’s former head of the State Security Service, accusing him of four corruption offenses, including taking large bribes in exchange for protecting call centers that scammed victims around the world, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.
If convicted, Grigol Liluashvili, who led the security service from 2020 until April 2025, could face between 11 and 15 years in prison.
Apart from allegedly taking bribes in tender procedures and from one businessman, prosecutors said that between 2021 and 2023, Liluashvili protected “a relatively smaller portion of call centers” and that “as a result of this criminal activity, Grigol Liluashvili received approximately $1.365 million in bribes through the mediation of his relative, Sandro Liluashvili.”
Earlier this year, OCCRP, together with Sweden’s SVT and more than 30 media partners, published an investigation titled Scam Empire. The investigation found that a Tbilisi-based call center — located just meters from the State Security Service headquarters — employed about 85 people and generated $35.3 million from more than 6,100 victims worldwide since May 2022.
Following this journalistic investigation, prosecutors froze assets linked to the call center and only recently arrested a German national who worked at the center, acting on an extradition request from Germany.
In October, authorities also raided the homes of a former prime minister, a former chief prosecutor, and Liluashvili, among others. Liluashvili’s cousin, Sandro Liluashvili, was arrested on charges of fraud and money laundering.
Asked which call centers Liluashvili was accused of protecting, a prosecutor’s office spokesperson declined to provide details. “Beyond what was said at the press conference, I can’t tell you anything. The investigation is ongoing,” Baia Tsanava told OCCRP.
As he arrived for questioning, Liluashvili told reporters this was his “first time being questioned.”
“Everything is God’s will,” he said. “Apparently they are interested in some details related to a specific case. I don’t know which case it is — I have never given testimony.”
His lawyer, Robert Grigalashvili, said the defense had not yet been briefed on the indictment. “They have not familiarized us yet. There are procedures for this. We have not given any testimony, we do not know the charges, and therefore cannot make any statement,” he told local media.
Liluashvili is a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and independent media have previously reported on his alleged role in protecting scam call centers — reporting he successfully challenged in court. His detention on Tuesday suggests those allegations may now be borne out and that he may have fallen out with his own party.
