Georgian Security Service head: influence, supporters of terrorist Islamic State decreased in Georgia

Head of Georgia’s State Security Service Vakhtang Gomelauri has reported to parliament today, stating that the number of supporters and the influence of the terrorist Islamic State has “significantly” decreased in Georgia.

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None of the incidents were recorded last year when a Georgian citizen attempted to leave the country to join the terrorist organisation in Syria or in Iraq,” Gomelauri said.

He stated that the attempts to use Georgia as the transit country of terrorists have also decreased.

Gomelauri stated that several Georgian citizens were killed in offensives in Iraq and Syria last year, fighting for the Islamic State.

Up to 20 Georgian citizens are still fighting,” he said.

Gomelauri also pointed at the threats of confrontation and destabilisation coming from the two Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).  

Special services of foreign countries aimed to stir conflicts between different ethnic and religious groups living in Georgia, were trying to worsen Georgia’s bilateral relations with regional countries and strategic partners and to discredit the country’s image,” Gomelauri said.

Gomelauri stated that the forces used different destructive political and social groups in Georgia, media outlets and social networks to achieve the goal