Candidate for Georgian State Security head: Russian occupation is main challenge for Georgia
Grigol Liluashvili may become the new head of the Georgian State Security Service. Photo: parliament of Georgia press office.
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Grigol Liluashvili, who has been nominated the new head of Georgia’s State Security Service (SSS), says that the main challenge for Georgia is the occupation of Georgian territories by Russia.
Liluashvili, who is addressing parliament’s Defence and Security Committee, told MPs that Russia’s illegal activities at the occupation lines aim to “make influence not only on Georgia but also on the international community.”
He said that recent developments at the occupation line with Tskhinvali [the opening of so-called police posts on Tbilisi administered territory and the closure of so-called borders] and the cases related to the murder of Georgian citizens Archil Tatunashvili, Giga Otkhozoria, David Basharuli and Irakli Kvaratskhelia “have confirmed the Russian goals.”
While discussing the issues Russia and de facto authorities have raised ultimatums and demands and deliberately influenced existing formats of negotiations – the Geneva Discussions and Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meetings,” Liluashvili said.
He stated that the occupation of 20 per cent of Georgian land “is an important lever for Russia in its hybrid war against Georgia.”
Liluashvili said that Georgia is trying to resolve conflicts with Russia peacefully. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
The lever is used by Russia to get involved in Georgia’s internal issues and attempt to spark ethnic, religious or other conflicts,” Liluashvili said.
He stated that Georgia, with the help of the UN, OSCE, EU and foreign allies “is taking all steps” to ease the current tension at the occupation line and resolve conflicts peacefully.
Speaking on other topics Liluashvili said that the actions carried out by SSS have led to “significant decrease in supporters of terrorist organisations in Georgia.”
He stated that the control of corruption is among the top priorities of SSS and Georgia stands behind only of Estonia from the post-Soviet states with the low level of corruption.
Liluashvili, who may replace Vakhtang Gomelauri in the role, needs to be approved by parliament as Gomelauri became the interior minister of Georgia in early September.
Liluashvili had served as the deputy head of SSS since 2017.
The Georgian State Security Service has denied illegal “borderisation” in the village of Kobi in Khashuri Municipality near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. However, it said, Russian occupation forces continue provocative activities along the villages of Chorchana and Tsagveli.
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The Georgian parliament has approved Grigol Liluashvili as the new head of the Georgian State Security Service (SSS), replacing Vakhtang Gomelauri in the role.
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