Georgia “has to be calm” as threats over nuclear weapon use in region exist – State Security Service head

Head of the State Security Service of Georgia, Grigol Liluashvili, on Thursday raised the treats of using nuclear weapons in the region, on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and said “if the country directly faces this threat, shelters will not help, so we have to be calm”. 

 

“The current challenges do not rule out the use of nuclear weapons. I do not mean our country, I mean the surrounding region… we must be calm, implement a moderate and pragmatic policy both inside and outside the country”, he said. 

 

He also noted each state agency had drafted an action plan in the case of use of nuclear weapons in the region. 

 

“The Ministry of Health has prescribed medicines, its distribution to the population, treatment, emergency aid scheme, including the allocation of shelters, although shelters become relevant when there is a direct hit. In that case, the shelter will not help us,” said Liluashvili.

 

The lower chamber of the Russian Parliament this week approved a bill to revoke the ratification of the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty). Legislators unanimously supported the bill in the second and third readings – all 415 MPs backed it.

 

The initiative, which comes amid rising tensions with the West, was raised by Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month. He said it would be a “reflection” of the US position.

 

The US is among five countries that signed the 1996 treaty but never ratified it.