On the morning of May 30, the State Security Service of Georgia carried out arrests in Tbilisi. Two individuals with radically opposing reputations were charged with espionage. The countries they allegedly spied for have not been disclosed, and the case has been classified as “secret.” Who are these individuals, and why is this story drawing so much attention? Let’s break it down.
At this point, the following can be said with certainty: the detainees face up to 12 years in prison for espionage, both are being prosecuted under Article 314 of the Criminal Code, neither admits guilt, and both have been remanded in custody by the court. Beyond this, the similarities end.
The first detainee is Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, a well-known pro-Kremlin activist. He has maintained a pro-Russian stance for many years and makes no secret of it. Rtskhiladze heads the Eurasia Institute, a non-governmental organization he founded to promote pro-Russian narratives in the country, and he was the driving force behind creating a Georgian equivalent of Russia’s “Immortal Regiment” (Bessmertny Polk, a patriotic movement commemorating WWII veterans). Just before his arrest, Rtskhiladze was actively lobbying for his new project, the “Russophobia Monitoring Council”—an initiative his lawyers directly link to his detention.
Rtskhiladze has repeatedly been the subject of investigative reports. Last year, for instance, the media outlet iFact published an investigation detailing the activist’s ties to Pravfond (a foundation established to fund Kremlin agents and project Moscow’s influence in its spheres of interest). The article cited specific financial figures and projects carried out by Rtskhiladze with Pravfond’s support.
Interestingly, Gulbaat Rtskhiladze’s pro-Russian activities began shortly after the 2008 war. The Russian invasion of Georgia was also a turning point in the life of the other detainee.
In that war, journalist Irakli Chikhladze lost his brother. Giga Chikhladze, also a journalist, was killed by shelling from Ossetian forces while performing his professional duties. Irakli himself has for many years run an outlet specializing in South Caucasus political analysis. He also heads the Caucasus Center for Civil Hearings, a platform known for hosting public discussions on regional issues. Chikhladze regularly organized field meetings: for instance, in 2015, his organization hosted a discussion in Gori on the situation in villages near the occupation line, and in Yerevan, his center brought together Georgian, Ossetian, and Abkhazian journalists to launch joint projects.
Now, investigators claim that Irakli Chikhladze “led an intelligence network consisting of several individuals” and acted “on the instructions of a foreign intelligence service.” Which country’s service remains classified. However, Irakli Chikhladze’s defense immediately and categorically rejected any parallels with the case of the pro-Kremlin activist Rtskhiladze.
Defense attorney Giorgi Gelkhauri immediately emphasized that these cases share nothing in common except for the article of the criminal code. For those close to Irakli, this is a matter of principle. According to the lawyer, the prosecution’s case is devoid of real evidence. The family’s position was expressed clearly by Irakli Chikhladze’s daughter: “We respect the judicial process, but we demand transparency, real evidence, and a fair defense. No one should be destroyed by secret accusations, pressure, or a fabricated story,” she wrote.
