The Russian military court has officially designated the Georgian National Legion, engaged in Ukraine, as a terrorist organization. The Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that the Legion was established in 2014 "under the auspices of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine" and represents the largest armed group recruited under the banner of "national identity."
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"Members of the Legion are involved in hostilities alongside the Ukrainian armed forces, as well as in organizing sabotage and terrorist attacks within Russia's territory, and in the torture of military personnel and killing of civilians," stated the FSB.
The Federal Security Service has announced that henceforth, the Georgian Legion members' criminal actions can be classified under terrorist crime statutes. Formed in 2014 as a volunteer battalion, the Georgian Legion has been part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2016, under the leadership of Mamuka Mamulashvili.
Russia has initiated an international search for Mamulashvili, accusing him of organizing and commanding armed groups within Ukraine, involving at least 24 Georgian citizens in the Georgian Legion and other Ukrainian armed formations, as well as inciting hatred. In late February, a Moscow court sentenced Mamulashvili in absentia to prison as a precautionary measure. Russia has also launched a search for other members of the Georgian Legion. Yesterday, on June 13, Mamuka Mamulashvili stated that she was poisoned for the third time a few months ago, prompting an investigation by Ukrainian law enforcement authorities.
"However, it may prove difficult to identify the perpetrators. I suspect that a number of Georgians sent to join the Georgian Legion on Russia's instructions may be responsible. I do not exclude the possibility that the Georgian government, currently cooperating with Russia, could have dispatched individuals tasked with such actions," Mamulashvili remarked.
In the fall of 2023, the State Security Service of Georgia included Mamuka Mamulashvili among those allegedly planning to foment destabilization and civil unrest in Georgia. However, no evidence has been presented by the State Security Service to substantiate these claims.
