In Abkhazia, another ethnic Georgian has been convicted of "espionage for Georgia"

In the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia, a court sentenced Shalva Khizanishvili to six years and nine months in prison. He was accused of espionage and illegal possession of weapons.

Khizanishvili, 39, a schoolteacher in the village of Shashikvara in the Gali District, was detained by State Security Service (SSS) officers in October 2025. This district is the only one in Abkhazia where the majority of residents are ethnic Georgians.

According to law enforcement, the teacher filmed one of the Russian border posts, for which he received payment from Georgian intelligence services. The Abkhaz SSS also stated that three rifles, ammunition, and explosives were found during a search of Khizanishvili's home.

Following Khizanishvili's arrest, the republic's Ministry of Education called for "purging the education system of those with a different mindset." A campaign against Georgian teachers from the Gali district began in the Abkhaz media.

Earlier, several other ethnic Georgians received prison sentences on charges of espionage and treason in favor of Georgia. Among them were Kakha Muradov, sentenced to 15 years in prison, and Kristina Takalandze, sentenced to 10 years and six months. In March of this year, Sukhum authorities reported the arrest of another Georgian, Emzar Bagishvili, on similar charges.

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