Georgian authorities have detained a former Georgian Dream municipal council member from Shida Kartli, Levan Gamrekeli, on charges of large-scale theft. They allege that Gamrekeli appropriated state-owned pipelines worth more than ₾5 million ($1.8 million) between 2020 and 2023, causing ‘substantial material damage’ to the state.
The Prosecutor General’s Office announced Gamrekeli’s arrest — along with that of two of his associates, Paata Nozadze and Roman Metivishvili — on charges of large-scale theft committed by a group on Tuesday evening. If found guilty, they could face up to 10 years in prison.
According to the investigation, Gamrekeli, who served as Deputy Chair of the Kashuri municipal council, together with his two associates, ‘secretly took possession’ of pipelines in the region.
According to independent media outlet Netgazeti, Gamrekeli represented Georgian Dream in the municipal council from 2017–2025.
Netgazeti noted that he was not found to have been included in Georgian Dream’s running list in Khashuri ahead of the elections, but Kartli Info Centre reported that Gamrekeli had said that he remained a member of Georgian Dream despite not being included in their list.
Both media outlets noted that Gamrekeli had been known for his ‘dubious bids’ for years. Citing opposition-leaning TV Formula, Netgazeti reported that Gamrekeli’s companies had won bids worth up to ₾500,000 ($185,000) in Khashuri alone. In turn, Kartli Info Centre reported that Gamrekeli’s annual income in 2023 reached ₾3.7 million ($1.4 million) from three income sources, and that he had spent ₾400,000 ($150,000) on charity.
Gamrekeli’s arrest is the latest in a series of corruption probes into former Georgian Dream officials, including ex-Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, who was charged with laundering roughly $6.5 million in ill-gotten gains earlier in October.
At the end of October, the home of former Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze was raided by Georgian authorities and his ex-deputy Koba Gabunia arrested as part of a case involving over ₾9.3 million ($3.5 million) in funds that were allegedly ‘fraudulently acquired’.
Xandie (Alexandra) Kuenning
