Unfortunately, I Learned About it From Open Sources - Ex-Intelligence Chief on Chorchana Checkpoint

Sujashvili, who served as the head of the Georgian Intelligence Service from 2013 to 2019, was questioned today, July 24, at the Prosecutor General's Office. He said that during the interrogation, he spoke as a former member of the National Security Council.

"I didn't have this information," Sujashvili told reporters after his interrogation. "The Intelligence Service, like other specialized agencies, operates within its framework. We gather intelligence beyond the borders and are actively involved in the non-recognition policy. Therefore, I don't see an issue with not having known this particular piece of information beforehand. Unfortunately, I learned about it from open sources. It would have been beneficial to have been informed earlier."

According to David Sujashvili, the opening of the checkpoint led to the local population facing a "rather difficult situation," prompting the Russian Federation to establish "additional checkpoints there."

In recent days, both Levan Izoria, former Minister of Defense, and Vladimir Chachibaia, former Commander of the Defense Forces, were also questioned at the Prosecutor's Office regarding the Chorchana checkpoint case. Like David Sujashvili, they too claim they weren't informed in advance about the checkpoint’s opening. Similar statements were made earlier by Ivane Matchavariani, former Minister of Finance, and Vakhtang Gomelauri, former head of the State Security Service, who were also interrogated.

The only former senior official from the Georgian Dream government who confirmed being informed about the Chorchana checkpoint's opening was Maia Tskitishvili, who served as the then Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure.

Leaders of Georgian Dream accuse former Minister of Internal Affairs and Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia of unilaterally opening a police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana in August 2019 and creating the threat of a new war.

The so-called temporary parliamentary investigative commission, chaired by Tea Tsulukiani, questioned Gakharia twice on this matter. According to commission members, as a result of the checkpoint’s opening, the occupation forces seized one million square meters of territory.

As Gakharia stated, the plan to open the checkpoint was agreed upon with all relevant agencies, and the EU Monitoring Mission was also aware of it. According to him, the purpose of opening the checkpoint was to restore patrolling in the mentioned territory.

Parallel to the work of the so-called investigative commission, the General Prosecutor's Office is conducting an investigation into sabotage, "attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance to a foreign organization and an organization controlled by a foreign power in hostile activities, and mobilization of finances for activities directed against Georgia's constitutional order and national security foundations." Giorgi Gakharia was also interrogated as part of this investigation.

The State Security Service stated in its 2019 report that the standard Georgian police checkpoint was established in the central government-controlled territory. Located approximately 250 meters from the occupation line, its purpose was to prevent illegal borderization and ensure a secure environment on the ground.