Another Georgian citizen has been charged with espionage in Abkhazia

Emzar Bagishvili, a Georgian citizen with a residence permit in Abkhazia, has been detained by Abkhazian State Security Service (SGB) authorities on suspicion of espionage. He was detained on March 10, and a criminal case was opened against him on March 12.

According to the SGB, Bagishvili is suspected of transmitting information to Georgia about the situation in the republic and the movement of military equipment. However, no evidence has been presented to support his involvement in espionage.

Abkhazian authorities regularly report the detention of citizens of Georgia and other countries on espionage charges. The most recent case was the arrest of Shalva Khizanishvili on October 1, 2025, whose case is currently being heard in the Supreme Court of Abkhazia. Previously, in January 2025, Kakha Muradov was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason and illegal arms trafficking. In 2023, Georgian citizen Kristina Takalandze received 10.5 years for espionage.