Grigol Liluashvili was sentenced to a long term for corruption.

The Tbilisi City Court sentenced former head of the State Security Service of Georgia Grigol Liluashvili to 13 years in prison for receiving large bribes. The lawyers stated that they would appeal the verdict.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on December 23, law enforcement officers detained former head of the State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili on charges of receiving bribes totaling more than 1.3 million dollars. Later, the Tbilisi City Court chose arrest as a preventive measure for him.

According to the verdict of the capital court judge Nino Tarashvili, Liluashvili was found guilty on all four counts of charges: in the activities of the agency managing kindergartens, in fraudulent call centers, and on two counts of receiving bribes with the assistance of former Deputy Minister of Economy Romeo Mikautadze, Interpressnews reports today.

In particular, Liluashvili was accused of protecting criminal activities committed by the Agency for the Management of Kindergartens, its head Kakha Gvanceladze, and individuals holding various positions in the agency. According to the accusation, they received funds in the form of so-called "kickbacks", part of which Grigol Liluashvili transferred directly to Kakha Gvanceladze.

Liluashvili was also charged with protecting fraudulent call centers. According to the indictment, his close associate, Andria Liluashvili, was directly involved in the activities of these centers.

The former head of the State Security Service was also accused in two episodes of bribery through former Deputy Minister of Economy Romeo Mikautadze, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison by the court in March of this year, found guilty of abuse of power and legalization of illegal income.

Grigol Liluashvili did not admit guilt. At today's court session, he exercised his right to a final word, the publication notes.

After the verdict was announced, the defense of the former high-ranking official stated that they would appeal the verdict in the appellate court and would fight to prove the innocence of the former head of the State Security Service. The lawyers do not rule out that the case may also reach the Strasbourg court, reports the Pirveli television company.

"The defense and Liluashvili expected an acquittal, as there was no evidence in the case that could in any way confirm his guilt. He will definitely try to prove his innocence, and we will definitely appeal this verdict. When a guilty verdict is issued, the country and the court must have the resources to think it over and consider how beneficial it will be for the country," said lawyer Lana Tsertsvadze.

The prosecution does not rule out that at the appellate court stage, Grigol Liluashvili may submit a petition to the prosecution for a plea deal with an admission of guilt, said prosecutor Mariam Berdzenishvili after the verdict was announced.

"Since the defendant did not admit guilt, I naturally expect that the defense will appeal the verdict issued today. If they claim they will appeal it to the European Court of Human Rights, that is also their right. The right to a fair trial was unequivocally and clearly guaranteed in this criminal case. The defense could use all available levers," said the prosecutor.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that at the end of May, a court in Tbilisi sent to arrest former deputy head of the State Security Service of Georgia Levan Akhobadze, accused of receiving a large bribe for assistance in smuggling money from Russia.