Opposition politician Targamadze defends remarks as open-source based after security service summons

Opposition politician Givi Targamadze defended his previous statements as being based entirely on publicly available information ahead of his questioning by the State Security Service of Georgia.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday before entering the building, Targamadze said he had “a lot to say,” though he was uncertain whether investigators would listen. 

“All my statements were based on information obtained from open sources,” he said. “I have nothing to prove to the security service; they are the ones who should justify summoning me over these statements.”

Targamadze also criticised the idea that he would need court authorisation, saying he did not require “a court, and certainly not another judge controlled by the security service” in order to speak with officials.

The opposition politician said authorities should focus on the issues he had raised, rather than questioning him. He referred to what he described as individuals allegedly prepared to carry out orders from Iran’s leadership, arguing that monitoring such threats should be a priority for the authorities.

“My statements concerned the situation in the region,” Targamadze said. “When a university sanctioned over terrorism concerns is operating in this country, that is a threat. That does not require additional proof.”

He added that he believed the security service’s lack of action on such matters could amount to encouragement.