State Security Service’s 2023 report highlights Russian occupation’s threat to Georgia’s security
Submitted to the Parliament this week, the report noted illegally stationed Russian heavy weapons and military contingents remained in the occupied territories of Georgia. Photo: State Security Service.
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The Georgian State Security Service’s 2023 report on Monday said the occupation of the Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions by Russia continued to “pose a major threat” to the Georgian state throughout the year.
Submitted to the Parliament this week, the report noted illegally stationed Russian heavy weapons and military contingents remained in the occupied territories of Georgia.
“Despite the war between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian occupation forces, illegally stationed in the occupied territories of Georgia, continued to actively carry out illegal military activities, including illegal military exercises and rotation of personnel - as in previous years - while the policy of the Russian occupation forces, aimed at annexation of the occupied regions, continued”, it said.
The Service noted the occupying forces continued to carry out illegal arrests of Georgian citizens and pursue the so-called ‘borderisation’ process aimed at “reinforcing the perception of insecurity among the population, discrediting state institutions and spreading nihilism in the public”.
The document also noted eight citizens of Georgia were in the de facto authorities’ illegal detention by the end of last year.
“The Government of Georgia continues to use all formal and informal mechanisms and legal levers at its disposal, especially the concentration of efforts of the international community, in order to achieve unconditional release of the illegally detained persons as soon as possible”, the Service said.
The body also emphasised its ongoing collaboration with international organisations, including the European Union Monitoring Mission, United Nations, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Council of Europe and International Committee of the Red Cross for addressing the security challenges and human rights issues.
The past year saw “processes directed against stability” of Georgia and “sharply increased threats” against its security, an annual report of the State Security Service to the Parliament said on Monday.
The Anti-Corruption Agency of Georgia took “various measures” in 2023, including investigative actions, analytical and preventive measures to arrest and prosecute officials for corruption and other charges, an annual report of the State Security Service to the Georgian Parliament said.
The current situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories and near the occupation line, as well as security challenges in the country and the “borderisation” process in Georgian villages adjacent to the ABL, was discussed on Wednesday by Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the Georgian State Security Service and Toivo Klaar, the European Union's Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in the country.
Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, on Wednesday said the Geneva International Discussions, a platform facilitating talks between the Georgian Government and de facto authorities in the country’s Russian-occupied regions, was “vital” for security and stability.