Security Service Slams Media’s ‘Interpretation’ of Alleged Presence of Russian Mercenary Company in Georgia 

The Georgian State Security Service slammed pro-opposition Mtavari Arkhi TV’s report on the alleged presence of fighters recruited by Russia in Georgia as “an irresponsible interpretation.”

In a statement released on February 1, the State Security Service noted that while it is fully aware of the threat such activities may present, dissemination of such claims in an affirmative manner, aims at sowing fear and panic in part of society, and discredits the country’s law enforcement agencies.

The Georgian State Security Service also said that dissemination of such information “by a particular media outlet” is in “a direct interest of hostile powers.”

Long Shadow of the Security Companies

On January 30, Mtavari Arkhi TV aired a story, noting that Russia’s Moran Security Group opened its branch in Georgia. To back up its words, the TV channel provided extracts from the public registry.

Stressing that the private military group, dubbed as “Putin’s private army,” is pursuing Kremlin’s interests and operating “in the world’s current hot spots,” the pro-opposition TV channel said it is unknown what activities the Moran Security Group’s branch is undertaking in Georgia.

According to the source cited by Mtavari Arkhi TV, Georgia’s branch of Moran Security Group was founded by “a triple agent” Levan Charkviani. Born in Russia and living in Latvia for a long time, Charkviani was arrested in Russia in 2013 on charges of spying in favor of NATO, the TV channel claimed. It noted that Charkviani also served at the Latvian Bureau of Constitutional Security. He pled guilty but “was, for some reason, released quite soon,” the TV channel said, adding that in 2017, Charkviani arrived in Georgia and got Georgian citizenship.

[This news item has been edited from its original version for language and clarity]

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)