In response to claims by Georgia’s State Security Service that former Georgian officials currently serving in Ukraine had allegedly plotted the murder of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder and honorary chair of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party, with alleged involvement of Georgian volunteers currently fighting against Russia in Ukraine, Mamuka Mamulashvili, the commander of the Georgian Legion fighting in Ukraine, has spoken out.
“I spread the information about the impending danger to the Georgian fighters in the US. I am sure that there will be sanctions against the Georgian government,” said Mamulashvili.
According to Mamulashvili, about 300 members of the Legion had been declared wanted by Russia, and most of them were currently in Ukraine.
“I predicted this development after Russia started putting us [Georgian Legion fighters] on the wanted list. This was done so that the Georgian authorities would have grounds to arrest us. Russian and Georgian special services are working synchronously today. Many of our guys who were returning to Georgia were advised by Georgian special services to leave. They said: ‘There are many Russians here, we can’t protect you anymore, please leave.'”
Mamulashvili also expressed concern about the possibility of some volunteers being extradited to Russia, but he believed this would occur only after the autumn general elections. “We will step by step [facilitate to] strengthen the sanctions against all those who participated in this,” he added.
Additionally, it has been reported that Georgian and veteran fighters in Ukraine have been summoned for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation by the State Security Service.
