Interior Minister: MIA taking “preventive measures” to protect state border

The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) is doing “its best to ensure law and order” in Georgia and taking “all possible preventive measures” to protect its borders, Vakhtang Gomelauri, the Minister of Internal Affairs, told the Parliament of Georgia on Thursday.

In comments about the security situation of the country on the backdrop of the armed conflict in Ukraine, Gomelauri said while “no country” had its borders “completely protected”, his Ministry and the State Security Service were taking measures to protect the Georgian state boundary “as much as possible”.

The Interior Minister also responded to a recent speculation about the allegedly increased rate of citizens of the Russian Federation entering Georgia as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, pointing out the rate was 50 percent lower compared to the same period of 2019.

Gomelauri also cited a terrorism report released by the US State Department last year, which said “the Georgian Border Police and the Coast Guard provide adequate primary response capabilities on Georgia's land and sea borders.”

The Minister also said his team was “actively pursuing law and order” in the area adjacent to the occupation line separating the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions from the Georgian-controlled territory. The official told MPs the Special Tasks Department was taking “all appropriate measures” for the purpose.

Gomelauri was speaking at the Parliament as part of his turn to address MPs in the Minister’s Hour format, where Government officials cover matters concerning their field of work, and answer questions from legislators.