UNM’s Tsitlidze slams Service Service appointment as sign of ‘crisis’ in ruling party

Anna Tsitlidze of the United National Movement (UNM) opposition has described recent leadership changes within the State Security Service (SSS) as evidence of weakness and “systemic crisis” inside the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Reacting to the recent replacement of Anri Okhanashvili with Mamuka Mdinaradze at the helm of the powerful agency, she said the reshuffle had shown that even loyal figures within Georgian Dream were “discarded” when no longer useful to the government.

“Okhanashvili thought he was one of the most powerful figures, yet within a month he was cast aside,” Tsitlidze said. “The same fate awaits Mdinaradze. This is how oligarchic regimes treat their own servants.”

She argued that the security service had not fulfilled its core function for 13 years, claiming it had instead been used to monitor and suppress political opponents. Tsitlidze further added that under Mdinaradze’s leadership, she expected this trend to continue.

She also called on the opposition and the wider public to seize the moment to challenge the government, which she described as “illegitimate”.