PM Kobakhidze hails new deputy security chief as ‘honourable man’ in response to media reports

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has defended the appointment of Levan Kharabadze as deputy head of the State Security Service, calling him an “honourable man who had served the country with dignity,” following media reports highlighting his past role under the United National Movement (UNM) government.

Kobakhidze said Kharabadze had “served with integrity” as governor of both Kvemo Kartli and Shida Kartli regions, and dismissed questions about his earlier career in law enforcement. “Out of 25,000 police employees at the time, 20,000 were honourable people, and Levan Kharabadze is one of them,” the Prime Minister told journalists.

He accused critical television channels of being “staffed by dishonourable UNM members” and continuing to serve what he described as a “bloody system.” “Do not ask me questions about the UNM. Ask them within your own newsroom,” he added.

According to reports, Kharabadze was a senior police official during the UNM’s rule and is alleged to have taken part in the dispersal of opposition activists in 2009.