**Former Georgian Government Chairman Detained in Kazakhstan**
Levan Varshalomidze, a member of the Unity-UNM party and former chairman of the Government of Adjara, was detained on March 18 while crossing the border at an airport in Kazakhstan. According to Levan Bezhashvili, a spokesperson for the UNM party, Varshalomidze faces a risk of extradition to Russia.
**Case Against Varshalomidze**
Bezhashvili said that Varshalomidze’s detention is linked to an alleged indictment from Russia, which has opened a criminal case against him. The case claims that Varshalomidze provided political consulting services to the Ukrainian government. Bezhashvilli dismissed this as baseless and called for proper communication with Kazakh authorities to secure Varshalomidze’s release.
**Varshalomidze’s Background**
Varshalomidze, 53, served as head of Adjara’s government from 2004 to 2012. During his tenure, he was involved in a major redevelopment project in the region, particularly in the capital city of Batumi. In 2015, Varshalomidze became an adviser to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and led a team of Georgian experts to facilitate reforms in Ukraine.
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