President signs law to separate security services from Interior Ministry

Georgia’s security services and police will soon be under two different agencies in Georgia.

Today the country’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili signed a document separating the country’s security and intelligence services from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

The much-anticipated law will see a State Security Service established from August 1, 2015 that will oversee security and intelligence issues, while the MIA will be in charge of police and several other services.

Signing of the law was announced by the President’s adviser for human rights and legal affairs Kakha Kozhoridze who said: 

"The President has always believed that this reform was urgent for the country's interest and it must be carried out promptly and reasonably”.

Kozhoridze also voiced the President’s position regarding his future plans: "The President believes that this law is the beginning, but not a sufficient step and the reform should continue in the nearest future promptly and in a well-thought-out manner.”

The new law will come into force after it is published on the state online registry of legal acts.

Within five days of the law coming into force, the Prime Minister must name his candidate for head of the State Security Service then Parliament will have two weeks to consider and approve or disapprove the nomination.

The State Security Service will unite the country’s counter-terrorism centre, counter-intelligence and anti-corruption agencies, operative-technical department and special operations department. All of these bodies have been within the MIA until now.

If Parliament fails to confirm a candidate to lead the State Security Service by August 1, the PM will appoint an acting head who will serve in the role until the legislative body approves another nominee.

For many years in Georgia the Security and Interior Ministries were two different agencies before they were united during ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s term in 2004.