The Tbilisi City Court held a hearing in the trial of journalist and editor-in-chief of the New Caucasus publication, Irakli Chikhladze, who was arrested on espionage charges. The session was held behind closed doors, despite the defense and the defendant himself continuing to demand the declassification of the case materials.
“Not a single piece of evidence substantiates this claim [that Chikhladze was engaged in espionage]. The accused understands this, and the defense understands this. We reiterate our demand to make this case public and lift the classification of secrecy, so that the public and all interested parties can see what evidence is being used to put Irakli Chikhladze on trial,” stated defense lawyer Giorgi Gelkhauri.
Today, the examination of the case on the merits began: the court reviewed video recordings submitted by the prosecution. However, according to the lawyer, “not a single episode, not a single word mentioned Georgia or Tbilisi, and not a single word was directed against Georgia’s interests.” “Consequently, we maintain our stance: in the case materials presented, there is not a single piece of evidence that would prove Irakli Chikhladze’s guilt.”
Gelkhauri also mentioned the former head of the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG), Mamuka Mdinaradze. It was under his tenure that the espionage investigation was launched: “It is possible that Mdinaradze himself had certain disagreements and an agenda regarding Irakli Chikhladze, and most likely, this case served precisely that,” the attorney stated.
The defense expressed confidence that an objective trial should lead the court to “the only correct decision—an acquittal.”
The next court hearing is scheduled for September 16.
The Irakli Chikhladze Case
On May 30, 2026, the State Security Service of Georgia reported the detention of a Georgian citizen on charges of “espionage” (Article 314 of the Criminal Code). It later emerged that the suspect was Irakli Chikhladze—an independent journalist, editor-in-chief of the Georgian Russian-language publication New Caucasus, civic initiative organizer, and the brother of journalist Giga Chikhladze, who was killed in Tskhinvali in 2008.
Investigators allege that Irakli Chikhladze, “acting on instructions from a foreign state’s intelligence agency, managed an espionage network consisting of several individuals, coordinated their activities, and ensured the collection and transmission of gathered information.” According to the SSG, the detainee systematically collected and transferred intelligence-related information in the interests of a foreign agency using personal connections in journalistic, expert, and other professional circles.
The case files were classified as “secret,” and the defense attorney signed a non-disclosure agreement. Pre-trial detention was ordered as a restrictive measure for Irakli Chikhladze. The journalist faces between 8 and 12 years in prison. He denies any wrongdoing.
Notably, on the same day as Chikhladze, the head of the pro-Russian NGO “Eurasian Institute,” Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, was also detained under the same “espionage” article. However, as the defense attorney pointed out, “these are two separate cases, connected solely by the statute.” Gulbaat Rtskhiladze was known for his pro-Kremlin rhetoric and initiatives, whereas Irakli Chikhladze advocated for Euro-Atlantic integration and supported liberal values.
