State Security Service Head: we try our best to filter out “unwanted guests” in country, criminal statistics - zero from incoming tourists

The head of the State Security Service of Georgia, Grigol Liluashvili, on Friday said the law enforcement officers have been trying to “filter out unwanted guests” and noted there have been “zero” crime statistics of incoming tourists.

Liluashvili stressed that in 2018 and 2019 Russian tourists had arrived in Georgia “twice as many as” in 2022 and there had been “neither sabotage nor terrorist act”, adding that no tourists had entered the country who were "observed in malicious activities" or about whom there was a "reasonable suspicion".

So remain calm, don't panic. If someone wants to send agents, it is not necessary to let in 900 000 visitors, it is enough to let in 500-200-100 people, as no one would allow 1,000-2,000 and 3,000 agents to come into the country”, Liluashvili said when presenting the 2021 report of the State Security Service to the Parliament.

He also explained that the “uncontrolled flow” of the Russian opposition representatives would be “as dangerous as” of the non-opposition persons, entering the territory of Georgia “for tourist purposes”.

However, unfortunately, there is a great temptation, there are great risks that Russian agents have been penetrated precisely in opposition-minded people, [...] including broadcasts and non-governmental organisations, which have been fighting for the establishment of a free democratic space on the territory of Russia, but from outside the country. I can't tell you more specifics, everyone knows everything”, Liluashvili added.

Liluashvili also noted that in the “democratic” country’s capital Tbilisi, people have not been discriminated against for their “political beliefs or views”.