The Democracy Research Institute echoes the video recording[1] released on October 2, in which former judge Besarion Alavidze speaks about numerous facts of threats/pressure exerted against him. Alavidze’s statements about the clannish rule of the judiciary reveal many alarming facts. The episode of pressure exerted on judges by the State Security Service is particularly noteworthy. He confirmed the aforementioned circumstances in a television interview as well,[2] stating that he possesses evidence of pressure.

In an interview with TV Pirveli, the former judge recalls numerous facts of pressure/threats exerted by the State Security Service. For example: “There was an offer from the State Security Service that they would give me a card with money deposited on it. This card would be issued to a confidential person, some secret employee. After the pronouncement of a decision on the Rustavi 2 case, they would take me to the airport that same day, they would take me through the VIP exit, and I would be able to take as many family members, friends, and relatives as I wanted, and as much money as I wanted, and I would go on vacation abroad. They would allow me to return to Georgia after the completion of this chaos.”

According to him, he possesses evidence confirming the existence of a clan in the court, in exchange for which the employees of the State Security Service offered him to return to his job and to give him money. Besarion Alavidze notes that they also threatened him with arrest and death. Pressure was also exerted on his family members. 

This is not the first time that information has been disseminated about pressure exerted on the judge by the State Security Service. Alavidze spoke to the media about death threat in 2024.[3] In addition, the former deputy head of the agency, Soso Gogashvili,[4] confirmed the fact of pressure on Besarion Alavidze and recalled in detail how this process was planned, although there has been no response from the relevant agency.[5]

Over the years, the State Security Service has developed into a closed agency, which, instead of protecting the country's security, has been the main tool for intimidating people under the Georgian Dream control. Information disseminated on October 2 also reveals a number of alleged criminal acts, including by representatives of the State Security Service, in connection with which an independent and immediate investigation is necessary. In the current situation, when all state institutions are under one-party control, there is no expectation of an impartial investigation of the above-mentioned alleged criminal acts, although according to Article 101 of the Criminal Procedure Code, “the basis for launching an investigation can be information about a crime that was provided to the investigator or prosecutor, was revealed during criminal proceedings, or was published in the mass media”.

So far, none of the relevant agencies has made even a formal general statement regarding the above-mentioned fact. Such cases are another clear proof that state agencies work in a coordinated manner and use state resources in order to strengthen partisan interests.