Georgia Arrests NGO Head on Espionage Charges for Working With Two Foreign Intelligence Services

Georgia's State Security Service arrested Gulbaat Rtskhiladze, founder of the Eurasia Institute, on May 30 under Article 314 (espionage, carrying 8-12 years), alleging he transmitted intelligence to two unnamed foreign states simultaneously over several years for financial compensation 123. First Deputy Head Lasha Maghradze stated at the briefing that Rtskhiladze maintained covert contacts with foreign intelligence representatives inside and outside Georgia and built information platforms and organized events at foreign intelligence direction 1. Civil Georgia characterized the Eurasia Institute as Kremlin-affiliated and reported it has been funded since 2020 by Pravfond, a Kremlin-backed foundation; the SSSG initially withheld the suspect's name and has not officially identified either country 1.