Georgian Parliament approves Mamuka Mdinaradze as new Head of State Security Service
Mamuka Mdinaradze
Photo: Parliament of Georgia
The Parliament of Georgia on Wednesday approved Mamuka Mdinaradze as the new Head of the State Security Service. The vote took place during a plenary session of Parliament, with 85 members supporting his candidacy and none voting against.
Prior to the vote, Mdinaradze’s nomination was reviewed by the Parliament's Defence and Security Committee in a closed-door session.
The position became vacant on August 23 when Anri Okhanashvili resigned as the head of the SSSG. Following this, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze nominated Mamuka Mdinaradze for the role.
According to Imedi TV, following Mdinaradze's appointment to the Security Service, Irakli Kirtskhalia is expected to lead the Georgian Dream faction and the parliamentary majority.
All News
25 May 2026, 13:43
Economy
Georgian PM: eliminating poverty by 2030 entirely achievable if current economic growth trends continue
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said that eliminating poverty by 2030 was “entirely achievable” if the country maintained its current pace of economic growth and declining poverty levels.
25 May 2026, 13:22
Politics
Georgian PM: recent communications, including with Rubio, reinforce hope for reset in Georgia-US relations
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said that several recent communications, including a conversation with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have strengthened the Georgian Government’s belief that a reset in US-Georgia relations is possible.
25 May 2026, 12:55
Society
Florence School of Regulation to organise specialised energy training on September 21, within the framework of WFER IX in Tbilisi
Training on energy issues will be organised in Tbilisi on September 21, 2026 by the Florence School of Regulation (FSR), in cooperation with the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and with the involvement of internationally recognized energy sector experts and specialists from other schools of regulation and regional regulators’ organizations, such as the African School of Regulation (ASR), the Public Utility Research Center (PURC), the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) and the Association of the Portuguese-Speaking Energy Regulators (RELOP).
25 May 2026, 12:48
Politics
Georgian Parliament official: Georgia has not changed its foreign policy course - Europe has
Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the First Vice Speaker of the Parliament, on Sunday said that Georgia has not altered its foreign policy direction, arguing instead that Europe itself has changed its approach.
25 May 2026, 12:30
Economy
European Economic Forecast: European Commission upgrades Georgia’s 2026 economic growth forecast to 5.5%
The European Commission has released its updated Spring 2026 European Economic Forecast, reviewing the current economic situation and outlining expectations for the coming years for both EU member states and candidate countries, including Georgia.
24 May 2026, 17:06
Politics
Georgian Parliament official dismisses report linking Georgia to terrorism as “fabricated anti-Georgian narrative”
Gia Volski, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and the first vice speaker of the Parliament, on Sunday sharply criticised a recent article in an American media outlet that characterises Georgia as a hub for terrorist operations, dismissing the report as yet another funded, anti-Georgian campaign aimed at damaging the country’s international reputation.
24 May 2026, 13:27
Politics
Armenian PM says Turkish railway route via Georgia now open for Armenian trade, thanks Turkey and Georgia for “constructive cooperation”
Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday announced the opening of a Turkish railway route via Georgia for Armenian imports and exports, describing it as a significant development for Armenia’s economic life and regional connectivity.
24 May 2026, 13:18
Politics
Georgian opposition figure Giorgi Kandelaki under fire for presenting evidence-free allegations on Iranian influence in Georgia
Georgia’s opposition figure Giorgi Kandelaki has come under criticism after citing unverified claims in support of a controversial article published by The Washington Free Beacon, which described Tbilisi as a “fertile ground” for Iranian recruitment and terrorist operations.
24 May 2026, 12:57
Politics
Georgian Deputy Justice Minister: ECHR rules state has not only right, but obligation to protect public officials from online attacks
Beka Dzamashvili, the deputy minister of justice of Georgia, on Saturday said that the European Court of Human Rights has fully upheld the government’s position in the case Miladze v. Georgia, noting that the ruling specifically validates the country's stance on the regulation of abusive online conduct.
24 May 2026, 11:55
Politics
Georgian Deputy Justice Minister: no ECHR ruling has found judiciary lacks independence or impartiality
Beka Dzamashvili, the deputy minister of justice of Georgia, on Saturday said that over the 14-year tenure of the Georgian Dream government, the European Court of Human Rights has not issued a single ruling finding the country’s judiciary to lack independence or impartiality.
23 May 2026, 16:37
Politics
Georgia’s ruling party MP criticises Brussels over “double standards” following Copenhagen protest dispersal
Irakli Cheishvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Saturday accused Brussels and Danish authorities of applying double standards toward Georgia after Danish police used force to disperse a protest in Copenhagen.
22 May 2026, 22:12
Economy
Georgian Economy Minister holds quadrilateral meeting with Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria on green energy, regional connectivity
Mariam Kvrivishvili, the minister of economy and sustainable development of Georgia, on Friday held a quadrilateral meeting in Istanbul with her counterparts from Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria, focusing on regional energy cooperation and the development of a cross-border green electricity transmission project.
22 May 2026, 22:06
Politics
Georgian PM pledges continued military modernisation and better conditions for personnel
At a ceremony awarding state honors to members of the Defence Forces, Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized his government’s commitment to strengthening the military.
22 May 2026, 21:03
Politics
Azerbaijani media: over 1 000 tickets sold for renewed Baku-Tbilisi-Baku train route
As AzerNEWS reported on Friday, over 1 000 tickets were sold shortly after the reopening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku railway route, reflecting strong passenger demand between the two capitals, according to Azerbaijan Railways.
22 May 2026, 16:54
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: Georgia sees no place in an EU that is European “in name only”
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said Georgia does not see its future in a European Union that is European “only in name”, urging the bloc to prove it remains attractive to Georgia by staying loyal to its core values.
22 May 2026, 16:43
Politics
Georgian Parliament official claims European values turned into tool of political pressure and speculation
European and democratic values have turned into tools for political blackmail and speculation, said on Friday Irakli Kadagishvili, the chair of the Georgian Parliament’s regional policy and self-government committee.
22 May 2026, 16:06
Justice
Former Deputy Head of Georgian State Security Service arrested on major bribery charges
The anti-corruption agency of Georgia’s state security service has arrested Levan Akhobadze, the former deputy head of the state security service, on charges of accepting an exceptionally large bribe.
22 May 2026, 14:47
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker warns against “choice” between EU future and territorial integrity
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday claimed that external forces are seeking to condition Georgia’s European Union integration on the surrender of its occupied territories and national sovereignty, arguing that an effort is underway to pressure the public into viewing Georgia’s regions as a “burden” that must be discarded to clear the path toward the EU.
22 May 2026, 14:10
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: external forces must accept Georgia has national Government acting in national interests
Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said that the country’s sole benchmark in international relations is its national interests, asserting that Georgia communicates on these terms with all international partners, including the United States and the European Union.
22 May 2026, 13:54
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: if Ukrainian Government decides that it wants friendly relations with Georgia, we will welcome it
Georgia bears zero responsibility for the strained relations between Tbilisi and Kyiv, and the next steps toward restoration depend entirely on the Ukrainian government's willingness to draw the right conclusions, said on Friday Georgian Parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili.