UNM Leader Levan Varshalomidze Arrested in Kazakhstan
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Levan Varshalomidze, the former head of the Adjara government and a member of the Unity - National Movement (UNM), has been arrested in Kazakhstan, according to his party. The arrest reportedly took place at an airport while Varshalomidze was crossing the border.
Levan Bezhashvili, one of the leaders of UNM, stated that the case is allegedly linked to information sent from the Russian Federation regarding a criminal case connected to Varshalomidze's political consulting activities with the Ukrainian government.
Bezhashvili dismissed the accusations as completely unfounded and warned of the risk of extradition, stressing the need for urgent diplomatic efforts.
"There is a risk of extradition, so at this moment, all of our resources are engaged to ensure proper communication with both the Ukrainian authorities and the Kazakh authorities, to provide real information and ensure that the Kazakh authorities make a decision that aligns with the best interests of both Georgia and Kazakhstan," Bezhashvili stated, adding that the case is allegedly based on information sent from Russia.
He further emphasized that the criminal case initiated by Russia is politically motivated, calling for immediate action to prevent what he described as "illegal detention."
