Mdinaradze warns foreign intelligence services against activities in Georgia

Georgia’s new Vice Prime Minister and State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Agencies Mamuka Mdinaradze has warned foreign intelligence services against conducting what he described as intensified intelligence activities in Georgia, saying the country’s counterintelligence capabilities were stronger than ever.

Speaking for the press on Friday, Mdinaradze said Georgian security services possessed extensive information about the activities of foreign intelligence representatives operating in the country and urged partner states to “protect” bilateral relations.

He claimed that counterintelligence operations in Georgia were currently being carried out at a significantly increased intensity and said the authorities had the ability to identify what he described as resident agents linked to foreign intelligence services.

Mdinaradze also said that Georgia had already made indirect references to such activities in previous public statements and warned that further indications could follow if the activities continued.

The vice prime minister said he would ask the State Security Service of Georgia to release video footage linked to the detention of Giorgi Udzilauri in order to counter what he described as speculation surrounding the case.

According to Mdinaradze, the footage would allegedly show an individual receiving instructions, accepting money in an envelope and signing documents connected to the investigation.

He said some materials from the case would be declassified, while other parts would remain confidential for legal and security reasons.

During the briefing, Mdinaradze also said Georgia sought constructive relations with both the United States and European countries, provided that Georgian national interests, sovereignty and territorial integrity were respected.

He further claimed that Georgia supported what he described as “Christian” and “truly democratic” European values that respected national identity, adding that no country should be criticised or “punished” for holding such views.