One of those arrested for misappropriating GEL 200 government aid is the chairman of the Saburtalo youth wing of the United National Movement Tamaz Shoshitashvili.

His lawyer Diana Martiashvili says that her client denies the allegation and links his arrest to political persecution.

“The only thing he can remember is that a friend of his asked for a bank card because this friend had seized his/her account. At this point, he is likely to exercise his right to silence. We will know the details after they are charged and we have the full evidence”, - said Diana Martiashvili.

The State Security Service of Georgia arrested 3 people on charges of large-scale fraud by the group by prior agreement. According to the investigation, during the pandemic, to receive fraudulent GEL 200 social assistance defined by the resolution of the Government, the individual entrepreneur (IE)and his associates organized the mobilization of several dozen people and the preparation of forged documents proving their employment with the IE in January-February 2020.