In a move that has sent shockwaves through Georgia’s media landscape, Eliso Kiladze, the editor-in-chief of Qronika Plus and Cnews news agancy, was detained by masked special forces on Wednesday morning.
While the government alleges her involvement in a high-stakes fraud ring, Kiladze and her supporters maintain that the arrest is a calculated attempt to suppress explosive investigative findings.
The arrest took place outside Kiladze’s home between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM on Feb. 18. Despite her high public profile and consistent presence in the media, the authorities opted for a heavy-handed operation involving masked officers from the Investigative Service, according to local outlet Civil Georgia.
The Prosecutor’s Office has charged Kiladze with “membership in an organized criminal group” allegedly led by sanctioned former Prosecutor General Otar Partskhaladze and the Mikadze brothers. The state claims Kiladze was part of a transnational “call center” scheme involving money laundering and fraud.