Former Georgian security chief sentenced to 13 years in prison

Former head of Georgia's State Security Service Grigol Liluashvili has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

According to Report's Georgia bureau, the ruling was handed down by Tbilisi City Court.

Under the court's verdict, Liluashvili was found guilty in four episodes covered by the charges against him. They include taking bribes in connection with the management of kindergartens, providing protection to fraudulent "call centers," and bribery involving Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze.

Investigators accused Liluashvili of protecting alleged criminal activities committed by Kakhaber Gvantseladze, former head of the Kindergarten Management Agency, and individuals holding various positions at the agency.

According to the prosecution, those individuals received money in the form of bribes and passed part of it on to Grigol Liluashvili. Investigators also alleged that part of the money was given directly to Kakhaber Gvantseladze.

The prosecution said Liluashvili's close associate Andria Liluashvili was directly involved in the activities of the "call centers."

The former security chief was also charged in two bribery episodes allegedly carried out through Romeo Mikautadze.

Grigol Liluashvili denies the charges against him.