Security Service Arrests Zugdidi Ex-Mayor and His Deputy

As a result of investigative activities, Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS) detained the former Mayor of the Zugdidi Municipality Lasha Gogia and Vice-Mayor Gia Gulordava for taking large bribes.

The SSS reports that in the first half of 2018, Lasha Gogia and Gia Gulordava, while fulfilling their official duties in the positions of mayor and vice-mayor, demanded and accepted bribes in large quantities, which amounted to $21,500 and in return promised a certain citizen that the municipality would put the land area of Gulua Garden and the land area in the vicinities of railway station up for auction.

“$11,500 was meant for letting Gulua Garden on lease, while $10,000 was meant for letting the area in the vicinities of the railway station on lease. In May, 2018, the same citizen gave Gia Gulordava $10,000 personally and on June 7, 2018 transferred $11,500 on the bank account of Kh.B. as a bank transfer, on Gulordava’s instruction. The money had been recently appropriated by Gia Gulordava and Lasha Gogia,” the Security Service stated.

The investigation is underway on the issue of taking bribes in large quantities with the prior consent of a group (Article 338, part II, sub-paragraph “G” and part III sub-paragraph “E” of the Criminal Code of Georgia), which carries a punishment of 11 to 15 years of imprisonment.

By Thea Morrison