Georgia’s newly appointed Security Service Chief highlights counterintelligence, occupation-related threats as key priorities

Tamaz Borashvili, the newly appointed Head of the Georgian State Security Service, on Wednesday outlined the main areas of his activities.

Borashvili said that his efforts, as well as those of every State Security Service employee, would focus on the early detection, prevention and suppression of threats.

“First and foremost, I would like to emphasise that my and each State Security Service employee’s efforts will be directed towards the early detection, prevention and suppression of threats, in order to ensure the security of Georgian citizens, protect the constitutional order of our country and safeguard national interests”, he said.

“Ensuring peace and security creates a solid foundation for the country’s democratic and sustainable development. A stable environment in the country increases Georgia’s attractiveness not only at the international level, but also in the occupied regions, which will inevitably have an impact on the ongoing peace processes aimed at restoring territorial integrity”, Borashvili continued.

He added that the Georgian state faces its greatest threat from Russia through the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.

“In this regard, responding to challenges such as the occupation forces’ activities aimed at annexation, illegal detentions and the unlawful process of so-called borderization will remain a priority for the State Security Service”, Borashvili stressed.

“The Service’s efforts will focus on creating new mechanisms and improving existing ones that will, to the extent possible, enable us to protect the fundamental rights of Georgian citizens living in the occupied territories”, he continued.

Borashvili also highlighted that, within the scope of its mandate, the Service would continue participating in the Geneva International Discussions and meetings held under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), as well as cooperating with the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM).

“In recent years, the Georgian authorities have faced intense pressure through the use of so-called hybrid warfare instruments. Among other things, we have repeatedly witnessed attempts by various domestic and external actors to destabilise the political environment in the country and change the government through violent means”, he said.

“Accordingly, the State Security Service will continue its intensive efforts to detect, prevent and suppress propaganda campaigns, so-called soft power, covert operations and other activities detrimental to the country’s interests”, Borashvili added.

He further noted that Georgia and the South Caucasus as a whole remain one of the key areas of competition among major actors with competing interests, including due to international projects passing through or planned for the region.

“Consequently, certain foreign intelligence services have a high level of interest in developments taking place in Georgia. In some cases, they have undertaken various intelligence and operational activities directed against our country’s interests”, Borashvili continued.

Against the backdrop of growing challenges in this area, Borashvili said he considers it a priority to intensify efforts to further improve the effectiveness of counterintelligence activities.

“I will pay particular attention to developing the operational and operational-technical capabilities of the Counterintelligence Department”, he said.

“Within the framework of counterintelligence activities, alongside identifying the activities and priorities of foreign intelligence services operating in Georgia, emphasis will be placed on preventing their active measures, including attempts to incite separatism and nationalism in Georgia, as well as confrontations based on ethnic and religious grounds”, Borashvili concluded.