The State Security Service of Georgia has confirmed the information circulated by pro-government media that it is investigating "the facts related to the preparation of an assassination attempt on Bidzina Ivanishvili." The SSS did not specify when or on what grounds the investigation was initiated.
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"Due to high public interest, we would like to inform the public that the State Security Service is investigating the preparation of a terrorist act and a conspiracy to overthrow the state government, crimes stipulated by the first part of Article 18-323 and the first part of Article 315 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
The State Security Service is looking into the preparation of the murder of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairperson of the Georgian Dream party, which was allegedly organized and financed by former high-ranking Georgian government officials and former law enforcement personnel from Ukraine.
The aim of these criminal actions is to overthrow the state government by violent means, creating disorder and weakening the government.
In this criminal case, active investigative and operational measures are being carried out. Specific individuals are being summoned for questioning as witnesses," stated the SSS.
For the past few days, the State Security Service has been summoning Georgians who fought in Ukraine and are currently in Georgia for questioning. On July 23, Gela Kakhabrishvili, a veteran of the Abkhazia and August 2008 wars, and his lawyer, Mikheil Ramishvili, announced after their questioning in the presence of a magistrate judge at the Tbilisi City Court that the SSS investigator's questions were about the preparation of a terrorist act against Bidzina Ivanishvili and high-ranking officials of Georgian Dream. The SSS also interviewed Nadim Khmaladze and Lasha Chigladze, fighters in Ukraine. However, when speaking to journalists, they did not specify that the questions were related to the preparation of a terrorist act against Ivanishvili.
"I received a contusion, came here to recover, and now they accuse me of a terrorist act and other things," said Gela Kakhabrishvili. Speaking to journalists, he dismissed the accusations as stupid and absurd. As Kakhabrishvili mentioned, the government's aim is to intimidate the fighters.
The State Security Service did not provide an explanation regarding the ongoing investigation. However, pro-government media reported that the criminal case was initiated under Articles 315 and 18-323. According to Griff, the case is "secret," and the lawyers have signed a non-disclosure agreement.
"It turns out that they planned to kill Bidzina Ivanishvili and other Georgian Dream leaders, to carry out explosions, to commit terrorist acts, and to stage a coup d'état. They have no other chance; there is no question of winning the elections," said Mamuka Mdinaradze, the leader of the parliamentary majority. As Mdinaradze mentioned, he "may be the smallest official against whom something was planned."
