Security Service has evidence of “grave provocations against state” - Deputy Interior Minister

Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, the Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia, on Monday claimed the country’s State Security Service had obtained evidence of a “grave provocation against the state”, in response to the body’s statement over trainings of domestic groups for “anti-Government actions” planned this fall.

Darakhvelidze’s comment came after the Service on Monday said the East-West Management Institute of the United States Agency for International Development programme had funded activists Sinisa Sikman, Jelena Stojsic and Slobodan Djinovic from Canvas - an NGO founded in 2005 in Serbia - to hold trainings for Georgian civic groups and individuals for the alleged goal. 

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The Service said the trainings had been held by the individuals in Tbilisi in late September, for the benefit of a “large group” planning “unrest” in the country in November and December. 

In his comments Darakhvelidze said it was a “fact” that a “serious provocation and conspiracy” had been planned against the state, and added all agencies in the country responsible for public safety “must do everything to prevent the development of such events”. 

In its response to the allegations on Monday, the US Embassy to Georgia rejected the USAID’s engagement in the developments as “false” and stressed the claims “fundamentally mischaracterised” the goals of the country’s assistance to Georgia.

USAID has been supporting the Georgian people since 1992. As always, our assistance is transparent, and we welcome any opportunities to discuss any concerns the government may have”, the Embassy stressed. 

The diplomatic office also noted the USAID had collaborated with Canvas for more than two years to “help people to speak up for the issues that matter to their families and communities”, and noted “despite these unwarranted attacks, we will continue to support Georgian organisations who support people to secure the future they determine and deserve and to secure their fundamental rights guaranteed by the Georgian constitution”. 

Canvas Georgia also rejected the allegations and accused the authorities of “exercising pressure” on its leadership for campaigning against its specific decisions or bills.