Arrest of activist of Georgian origin raises concerns over South Ossetia’s reputation
Tamar Mearakishvili arrested
In South Ossetia, civil activist Tamar Mearakishvili has been arrested on suspicion of “spying for Georgia.” According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, Mearakishvili, a Georgian citizen, “collected and passed on information about strategically important sites in the republic, thereby endangering the country’s security.”
“The security services reportedly identified a strategic site in photographs posted by Mearakishvili on social media,” the prosecutor’s office said.
A criminal case has been opened under the espionage law, which carries a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years. Mearakishvili is currently held in a detention facility. She denies the charges and has launched a hunger strike in protest.
Past issues
Local experts also reject the espionage claim, saying Mearakishvili’s arrest is linked to her civic and political activism. In particular, she has highlighted social issues and openly criticised South Ossetian authorities — not just the current leadership.
Her criticism also targeted former South Ossetian president Anatoly Bibilov. At that time, she faced pressure from law enforcement: her home was searched, her South Ossetian passport was seized and declared fake, and she was accused of forging documents. This led to a lengthy court case, which Mearakishvili ultimately won, and she was acquitted.
Arrest instead of passport
Last year, she applied for a new passport upon turning 45. However, the South Ossetian Interior Ministry never issued the document and provided no explanation.
Tamar Mearakishvili posted a video message addressed to President Alan Gagloev, demanding that he meet her and issue a new passport, warning that she would stage a solo protest otherwise. Shortly afterwards, prosecutors raided her apartment in Tskhinvali.
Also detained was former prosecutor of the Leningor district, Alan Kulumbegov, whom Mearakishvili had called for help. His whereabouts remain unknown. In January 2025, Kulumbegov was reportedly assaulted by a current official — the sitting South Ossetian Prosecutor General, Grigory Sobaev.
‘Gagloev puts his ally behind bars‘
According to South Ossetian experts who spoke to JAMnews, this high-profile “spy case” is likely to have equally significant political repercussions.
“Even the current opposition — with whom she previously had conflicts — condemned Mearakishvili’s detention. In effect, President Gagloev has put his former ally behind bars. During the internal political struggle, she supported his candidacy and criticised his rival, then-President Bibilov,” a source in Tskhinvali told us.
One opposition Telegram channel in Tskhinvali claimed that “Gagloev’s faction staged a full-scale operation to intimidate Tamar Mearakishvili”:
“This action is driven by Alan Gagloev, who fears everyone and everything, but most of all, losing his seat. That moment is inevitable. For Gagloev, it would mean losing everything. Unlike Bibilov, he has no ties in Russia and lacks respect among the people. So he targets a woman, trying to show Moscow that he still controls something.”
‘Georgians will take advantage of this‘
Another JAMnews source said that Mearakishvili “is largely subjective and her statements are always emotional,” but her arrest will damage South Ossetia’s reputation. He believes the Georgian side will readily use the case to accuse South Ossetian authorities of violating the rights of Georgians.
“In Tbilisi, they have already started using this against us; it’s being politicised,” he said.
The source, who wished to remain anonymous, added that if the prosecutor had solid evidence that Tamar Mearakishvili was engaged in espionage, she could have been detained earlier. The fact that the arrest coincided with her threats to stage a protest makes the timing look highly suspicious.
President’s commentary
Alan Gagloev also commented on Mearakishvili’s arrest. At an informal meeting with journalists, he presented a certificate for €1,000 awarded to the activist by the Dutch embassy in Georgia “for defending the interests of South Ossetian citizens.”
According to Gagloev, the republic’s authorities had shown maximum patience despite Mearakishvili’s high-profile actions and her alleged connections with Georgian structures, refraining from taking “any restrictive measures” against her.
He also insisted that “this case is not about nationality.”
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Tamara MearakishvTamar Mearakishvili arrested
