Ex-Intelligence Chief questioned over outpost near occupation line, says he was unaware of its establishment

Former head of Georgia’s Intelligence Service, Davit Sujashvili, has been questioned by the Prosecutor’s Office over the establishment of a Georgian security outpost in the village of Chorchana, near the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region in 2019 amid claims by the opposition the probe is targeting former Interior Minister and now opposition leader Giorgi Gakharia. 

Sujashvili said he had no prior knowledge of the decision to install the outpost.

Speaking to reporters after his questioning on Thursday, Sujashvili confirmed he had been summoned specifically in relation to the Chorchana checkpoint episode.

“It’s no secret I was summoned about the Chorchana case,” he said. “At the time, there were two councils: the National Security Council under the President and the State Security and Crisis Management Council. After these were dissolved, reforms were carried out, and the National Security Council was restructured. As head of intelligence, I was a permanent member of that council.”

Sujashvili claimed that decisions such as the establishment of an outpost near the occupation line should have been discussed by the security council, but then-Interior Minister Gakharia did not bring the issue before the body.

“I had no information about the checkpoint in Chorchana. The Intelligence Service, like other specialized agencies, works within its own framework and is not directly involved in non-recognition policy matters,” Sujashvili said. “I don’t see a problem in not having known about it beforehand, though I later learned about it through open sources and media. Of course, it would have been better to be informed earlier.”

He added that since the outpost was established, Russia opened additional checkpoints in the area, worsening the situation for local residents.

“From what I know, the local population is now in a very difficult situation,” he said. “Russia’s response - opening more outposts - is a serious concern.”

The village of Chorchana, located near Georgia's occupation line with the Russian-backed breakaway region of Tskhinvali, became the centre of tensions in 2019 when Georgian authorities installed a new police outpost on the Tbilisi-controlled territory. This move drew criticism from de facto South Ossetian authorities and led to retaliatory measures by Russian forces, including the erection of additional checkpoints.

At the time, Gakharia, who later became Prime Minister, served as Minister of Internal Affairs and oversaw security operations.Now the ruling authorities claim Gakharia’s move, who currently chairs the For Georgia opposition, had led to losing additional territories and had been agreed upon with other top state officials.