Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday claimed Ukraine had become “shelter” for Georgian “criminals” in top public posts, following the claims by the Georgian State Security Service that Gia Lortkipanidze, the former Deputy Interior Minister of Georgia under the United National Movement Government, who currently serves as the Deputy Head of the Ukrainian military intelligence, had been involved in an allegedly planned “Euro Maidan” scenario in Georgia. 

He said Lortkipanidze,“Georgian in origin, but non-Georgian in his heart and soul”,had been “exposed for the second time” in conspiracies against his homeland, following his charges in 2021 for alleged aid to the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili to cross into Georgia from Ukraine in September of that year. 

Papuashvili also reiterated his allegations to the part of the domestic opposition and NGOs of “cooperating” with intelligence services of foreign states in a bid “to harm national interests”. 

The Georgian State Security Service claimed on Monday along with Lortkipanidze, Mikheil Baturin, a former member of Saakashvili’s bodyguard, and Mamuka Mamulashvili, the commander of the Georgian Legion fighting in Ukraine, were behind the alleged scenario. 

The body claimed the group were expecting the European Union’s rejection of Georgia's membership candidate status later this year to spark civil confrontations to “overthrow” the current Government.