Political Turmoil: UNM Member Released After Detention in Kazakhstan

Levan Varshalomidze, a member of the United National Movement, was detained in Kazakhstan at Russia’s request, but has been released. He faces allegations of military involvement in Ukraine, which his party disputes. An ongoing legal situation remains, with support from both Georgian and Ukrainian authorities.

The United National Movement (UNM) has reported that Levan Varshalomidze, a politician affiliated with the party, was temporarily detained at an airport in Kazakhstan due to a request from Russia. The detention occurred while Varshalomidze was attempting to cross the border. The UNM disclosed this information on Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday afternoon, Varshalomidze had been released, according to Levan Antadze, the head of the party’s Batumi branch.

Antadze noted, “He has been released, but as far as I know, legal processes are still ongoing. We expect good news soon.” Varshalomidze, a prominent figure and ally of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, served as the head of the government for the Autonomous Republic of Adjara during the UNM’s governance from 2004 to 2012. He has also held significant positions in Ukraine during the presidencies of Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelenskyi, notably being appointed as head of Ukraine’s Investment Fund in 2020.

Multiple UNM members have indicated that a criminal case against Varshalomidze was initiated in Russia, prompting his detention in Kazakhstan at Moscow’s behest. Gia Baramidze, a party member, stated that Russia accused Varshalomidze of engaging in “combat operations” in Ukraine, claims which Baramidze refuted, emphasizing, “[Varshalomidze] helped Ukraine a lot as the head of the investment council, but he did not participate in military actions.’

The UNM did not disclose the origin of their information regarding the Russian request, although previous reports revealed that Varshalomidze was among 100 Georgian citizens for whom Moscow had issued search warrants due to alleged mercenary activities. Tina Bokuchava, another UNM member, commented on the situation, saying, “He has done a lot for Georgia, but he has also done a lot for Ukraine, which is why he is being persecuted by Russia.”

Antadze affirmed that Varshalomidze had secured legal representation, and both the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ukrainian officials were in communication with Kazakhstan regarding his case. As of the publication time, no response had been received from the Georgian Foreign Ministry regarding the matter.

In recent developments, Varshalomidze has been active in Georgian politics, becoming a member of parliament in 2020. However, he, along with other opposition figures, declined to retain his seat following the 2021 local elections in protest of the official results. Furthermore, he contended for leadership within the UNM in 2020, but was defeated by fellow party member Nika Melia.

In summary, Levan Varshalomidze, a member of the United National Movement, was detained in Kazakhstan at Russia’s request but has since been released. He faces a criminal case in Russia tied to accusations of military involvement in Ukraine, which his party vehemently denies. The UNM continues to support Varshalomidze, who remains active in Georgian politics despite recent challenges.

Original Source: oc-media.org