The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) published the annual report for 2023, saying hybrid threats against Georgia have particularly increased last year.

The report reads that the SSG constantly applied all available measures to prevent and avert the activities targeted against national interests by the so-called ‘mild force’ using destructive elements, covert operations and information war tools.

“In the reporting period, both inside and outside the country, the forces affiliated with foreign special services and certain destructive elements waged disinformation and propagandist campaigns against Georgia.

In 2023, within the framework of information war, the campaigns of different forces aimed to incite anti-Western sentiments, delay European integration, damage relations with strategic allies and discredit Georgia’s image as being a country of democratic and Western values, to increase distrust and discontent toward state institutions and raise the de-polarization level in society,” reads the report.

According to the report, the SSG observed provocative statements via some media outlets, social networks and internet space that created threats of conflict and provocations in the regions resided by representatives of ethnic minorities.

“Groups were revealed both inside and outside the country, which spread nationalist, fake and distorted fact-based information and anti-Georgian narratives among the national minority population. In the reporting period, within the so-called information war, SSG constantly monitored ongoing processes and campaigns to reveal the financial sources. Foreign organizations involved in similar activities and individuals in Georgia with possible ties with them were under control. The Service carried out relevant measures as envisaged by the legislation to neutralize the facing challenges,” reads the report.