The State Security Service of Georgia is likely investigating a case involving the preparation of a terrorist attack against the honorary chairman of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and other high officials of the party. Gela Kakhabrishvili and his lawyer, Mikheil Ramishvili, announced today, after completing an inquiry at the Tbilisi City Court, that the SSS investigator’s questions were related to this matter. Gela Kakhabrishvili, a veteran of the Abkhazian and August 2008 wars, is among the few Georgians fighting in Ukraine who have recently been summoned by the Security Council for an interview.
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"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 described the accusations as stupid and absurd. Kakhabrishvili believes the government's goal is to intimidate the fighters.
“There was a conversation about Bidzina Ivanishvili, the co-chairman of Georgian Dream. There are claims that something like this is being planned, suggesting that a terrorist act is being prepared in Georgia to overthrow the government. If there is information or a statement to this effect, law enforcement agencies should react accordingly. An objective investigation should be conducted based on such statements. However, this should not be used for imposing political restrictions before the elections due to differing opinions and speech,” said lawyer Mikheil Ramishvili.
The State Security Service has not yet issued a statement regarding the ongoing investigation. However, pro-government media recently reported that the criminal case has been initiated under Articles 315 and 18-323, which involve conspiracy to violently alter the constitutional structure of Georgia and the preparation of a terrorist act. The case is classified as "secret," and the lawyers have signed a non-disclosure agreement.
In court, during a session with the magistrate judge, Nadim Khmaladze and Lasha Chigladze, who fought in Ukraine, were also questioned. However, they did not indicate that the questions were related to the preparation of a terrorist act against Ivanishvili.
As Chigladze stated, the ongoing investigation by the SSS "is completely absurd and insulting to every fighter who has fought for Georgia."
“They accuse us with ridiculous articles - terrorist acts, coup d'état. They talk about a crime committed by boys who came from Ukraine. It does not exist and will not exist. I have been in the country for a year, receiving treatment and having been contused twice. What terrorist act? What coup? This is what the Russians call us - that we are terrorists, Georgian fighters,” Chigladze said.
The SSS has summoned Vazha Tsetsadze and Konstantine Jghamaia for questioning. They are also fighting in Ukraine.
The State Security Service has repeatedly announced plans to overthrow the government in recent years. On May 8, amid thousands of protests against the Russian Law on Foreign Agents, the SSS warned of the danger of "provoking events similar to the civil strife of the 1990s." The State Security Service stated that "citizens of Georgia outside the country are actively involved in criminal plans, particularly a specific group of Georgians fighting in Ukraine," although they did not provide concrete evidence. Earlier, in October 2023, the SSS had announced expectations of revolutionary scenarios and plans to overthrow the government. According to the SSS, between October and December, a group operating both within Georgia and abroad planned to organize destabilization and civil unrest in Georgia, with the ultimate goal of changing the government through violence.
