Georgian Vice PM praises Georgia's special services for spy arrests
Mamuka Mdinaradze
Photo: Administration of Government
Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and State Minister for the Coordination of Law Enforcement Agencies, on Saturday said that Georgia’s special services were now effectively working to identify and detain spies, marking a significant change compared to the past.
Speaking on the Imedi TV talk show Open Air - Debates, Mdinaradze argued that during debates over legislation, such as the transparency law, critics often relied on external narratives rather than engaging with domestic arguments, pointing to international actors’ positions as justification for their objections.
“The struggle between us and external actors is so unequal that those legal solutions are often also forced moves. I have had discussions with people during the transparency law, when there were no arguments left, and they would answer, ‘Then why do the US and Europe say it is Russian’. When you criticise our legal solutions, you very well know how much external support there was for that narrative”, he said.
“We have strong special services and I want to thank those I worked with. I am proud that today we are arresting spies. Our country practically never used to arrest spies, and today I can say that yes, we are working, but we must not fall into self-satisfaction”, Mdinaradze concluded.
All News
11 July 2026, 12:15
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker: radical opposition’s justification of terrorism reveals dangerous moral degradation
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said that the radical opposition’s attempts to justify Aleko Elisashvili’s attempted terrorist act as serving “just goals” perfectly illustrate the essence of terrorism and signal a dangerous evolution that could eventually lead to justifying completed murders.
10 July 2026, 22:21
Justice
Georgian State Security Service has detained wanted Georgian citizen in neutral zone between Georgia-Armenia border checkpoints in connection with October 4 case
The State Security Service of Georgia on Friday detained a wanted Georgian citizen in the neutral zone between the Georgia-Armenia border checkpoints in connection with the October 4, 2025 case, which involves allegations of organised violence, an attempted seizure of the Presidential Palace, and preparations for acts of sabotage.
10 July 2026, 21:38
Politics
Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker highlights historic successes at ECHR and ICC amid territorial integrity challenges
Georgian Parliament Vice Speaker Giorgi Kakhiani on Friday addressed the 51st Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie, highlighting Georgia’s commitment to multilateralism, state sovereignty, and the rules-based international order.
10 July 2026, 19:08
Foreign policy
Georgian FM holds farewell meeting with Chinese Ambassador, highlights progress in bilateral relations
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Friday held a farewell meeting with Zhou Qian, the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, who is concluding his diplomatic mission in the country.
10 July 2026, 17:27
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker says ALDE must force Lelo party to distance itself from terrorism
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday responded to the court verdict against opposition politician Aleko Elisashvili, saying that the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) must either force the opposition Lelo party to distance itself from terrorism or expel it from the alliance.
10 July 2026, 16:22
Politics
Azerbaijani President approves agreement on gas supplies to Georgia
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday approved an agreement on gas supplies to Georgia.
10 July 2026, 16:21
Justice
Aleksandre Elisashvili sentenced to 13 years in prison for attempted terrorist act
Aleko Elisashvili, one of the leaders of the opposition Strong Georgia - Lelo, on Friday was found guilty by the court on charges of attempting to commit a terrorist act.
10 July 2026, 15:18
Politics
Georgian PM says rivalry within UNM reflects competition among “foreign agents”
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said infighting within the opposition United National Movement (UNM) reflected competition among what he described as “foreign agents”, adding that the party’s actions required a legal response beyond electoral defeat.
10 July 2026, 15:09
Politics
Georgian PM says country outperforming EU candidates and some member states
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said Georgia is ahead not only of EU membership candidate countries but also of a number of EU member states in all directions, which is the result of the country's economic progress.
10 July 2026, 15:07
Politics
Georgian PM: Anaklia Deep Sea Port will be built with direct state involvement to best protect national interests
The Anaklia Deep Sea Port was initially planned to be developed with a single strategic partner, but the approach has changed and the port will now be built with the direct involvement of the state, said on Friday Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
10 July 2026, 14:16
Foreign policy
Georgian PM says ECHR confirms limits to expression to prevent hatred
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday welcomed a recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, saying the Court had confirmed that restricting certain forms of expression could be justified when necessary to prevent hatred and aggression in a democratic society.
10 July 2026, 13:58
Politics
“OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has fallen to Joe Wilson’s level” - Georgian PM slams OSCE PA over Georgia resolution
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday criticised the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly over a recent declaration concerning Georgia, saying the organisation has “fallen to the level of Congressman Joe Wilson”.
10 July 2026, 13:53
Politics
Georgian PM says opposition’s “sanctions abroad, protests at home” strategy warrants legal response
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said that the opposition’s “sanctions - abroad, protests - at home” strategy reinforces the lawsuit filed with the Constitutional Court and warrants an appropriate legal response.
10 July 2026, 12:26
Politics
Georgian Gov’t ranks among Europe’s top 20 for private sector-supportive governance
The Chandler Institute has published its Regulatory Governance rating as part of the Good Government Report 2026, awarding the Georgian government a high score for its governance framework and policies that support private sector development.
10 July 2026, 12:21
Foreign policy
Georgian Parliament official says Georgia will continue working within OSCE PA unless red lines are crossed
Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, on Thursday said Georgia would continue participating in the work of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly despite protesting the adoption of its latest declaration, stressing the country would remain engaged as long as its “red lines” were not crossed.
10 July 2026, 12:19
Politics
Georgian Parliament official on OSCE PA session: this summit marked end of international law paradigm of recent decades
Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on European Integration, on Thursday discussed the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe held in the Hague, saying that the session marked the end of the understanding of international law that has prevailed globally for decades.
09 July 2026, 21:50
Politics
Georgian Parliament official: ECHR recognises limits on freedom of expression in cases involving insults
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of speech and expression, may be restricted in order to safeguard the rights of others, said on Thursday Archil Gorduladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs.
09 July 2026, 21:47
Politics
Georgian Parliament official: OSCE no longer discusses Georgia’s occupied territories, focuses on media and protest allegations
Maia Bitadze, Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Environment Protection and Natural Resources Committee, on Thursday claimed that the OSCE, an organisation established to promote security and cooperation in Europe, was no longer discussing the issue of so-called borderisation or the situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied regions, instead focusing on alleged restrictions on media freedom and demonstrations in the country.
09 July 2026, 21:37
Foreign policy
Georgian Parliament official: Georgian delegation’s strong remarks at OSCE Assembly did not go unnoticed
Maia Bitadze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Environment Protection and Natural Resources Committee, on Thursday said the statements of the Georgian delegation were very strong at the last session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, adding statements did not go unnoticed.
09 July 2026, 15:53
Politics
Georgian Parliament Speaker, outgoing Chinese Ambassador review progress in bilateral relations at farewell meeting
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday held a farewell meeting with Zhou Qian, the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Georgia, during which the parties reviewed the progress of bilateral relations and discussed prospects for further cooperation.


