Levan Varshalomidze, a member of the United National Movement, was briefly detained in Kazakhstan at Russia’s request but has since been released. He is implicated in a Russian criminal case alleging involvement in combat operations in Ukraine, claims he and his party deny. Varshalomidze has held various political positions in both Georgia and Ukraine.
The United National Movement (UNM) has reported that one of its members, Levan Varshalomidze, was temporarily detained at a Kazakhstan airport while crossing the border, allegedly at Russia’s request. This information was communicated to journalists by the party on Tuesday evening. By Wednesday afternoon, Levan Antadze, head of the UNM Batumi branch, confirmed to OC Media that Varshalomidze had been released but mentioned ongoing legal processes.
Varshalomidze, a close associate of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, previously served as the head of the government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara during the UNM’s rule from 2004 to 2012. He has held various state positions in Ukraine during the presidencies of Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelenskyi, including a role as head of Ukraine’s Investment Fund, appointed in 2020 by Zelenskyi.
UNM members have asserted that a criminal case against Varshalomidze has been opened in Russia, leading to his detention in Kazakhstan upon Moscow’s request. Gia Baramidze, a party member, stated during an interview that Russia accused Varshalomidze of involvement in combat operations in Ukraine, a claim he deemed false, explaining that Varshalomidze contributed significantly as the head of an investment council without engaging in military actions.
While the UNM did not disclose the source of information pertaining to the Russian request, Russian media previously noted that Varshalomidze was among 100 Georgian citizens wanted by Moscow for alleged mercenary activities. Tina Bokuchava, another party member, asserted that Varshalomidze’s contributions to both Georgia and Ukraine have led to Russian persecution.
Antadze mentioned that Varshalomidze had retained legal counsel and that both the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ukrainian officials were in contact with Kazakh authorities concerning his situation, though he did not provide specific details regarding the release process. Attempts made by OC Media to acquire comments from the Georgian Foreign Ministry were not answered at the time of publication.
Varshalomidze has been active in Georgian politics in recent years, serving as a member of parliament after the 2020 elections. However, he declined to retain his seat in protest of the official results of the 2021 local elections. Furthermore, he ran for leadership of the UNM in 2020 but lost to Nika Melia.
In summary, Levan Varshalomidze, a notable member of the UNM, was detained in Kazakhstan at the alleged request of Russia, which has opened a criminal case against him. Although he has been released, legal challenges remain. Varshalomidze’s political history includes significant roles in both Georgian and Ukrainian governance, reflecting his ongoing involvement in political affairs. The situation illustrates the complexities of geopolitical relationships and the challenges faced by opposition figures in the region.
Original Source: oc-media.org
