Gia Oniani Lentekhi mayor arrest: Corruption probe targets former officials
The Gia Oniani Lentekhi mayor arrest has marked a significant development in Georgia’s fight against regional corruption. Gia Oniani, who governed the town of Lentekhi from 2021 to 2025, was detained along with two other municipal employees for allegedly abusing their official positions. The investigation centers on a hotel construction permit granted to a firm owned by the former mayor’s wife. Authorities claim the permit was issued without following mandatory legal protocols, bypassing both safety requirements and regulations intended to protect cultural heritage sites.
The legal action follows a lengthy investigation by iFact and OCCRP, which eventually culminated in the Gia Oniani Lentekhi mayor arrest. Journalists discovered that Oniani had originally owned the construction company himself but transferred his shares to his wife just months before taking office to avoid conflict-of-interest scrutiny. Prosecutors also allege that Oniani remained personally involved in the project’s decision-making process. The site, which holds cultural significance, reportedly lacked the necessary informational boards and safety fences required by Georgian law.
If convicted following the Gia Oniani Lentekhi mayor arrest, the former official and his associates face up to three years in federal prison. Among those also detained are Nugzar Tvildiani, the head of the municipal architectural department, and Giorgi Gulbani, a safety official and relative of Oniani who allegedly allowed the illegal construction to proceed. As the case heads to court, it highlights the growing role of investigative journalism in bringing local government irregularities to the attention of national law enforcement in Georgia.