Vice PM Mdinaradze: Even much larger and more powerful nations struggle with dismantling active spy networks

“I would like to thank the State Security Service and the staff of its Counter-Intelligence Department for the highly successful counter-intelligence operations carried out over recent days,” stated Mamuka Mdinaradze, Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and State Minister for Law Enforcement Coordination, during a briefing at the Government Administration.

The Vice Prime Minister noted that executing operations of this nature, namely, dismantling active espionage rings and detaining their operatives, belongs to a category of intelligence and investigative work that even much larger and more powerful states often find incredibly difficult.

“As you are aware, of the two individuals arrested by the State Security Service on espionage charges, one is accused of gathering intelligence on behalf of two different foreign states. The second suspect is implicated in espionage and acting as a sort of ringleader, distributing funds and assignments to members of the network.

According to the prosecution, this individual was a resident agent for the intelligence services of the very same state on whose behalf another suspect was arrested a few weeks ago for passing on classified information. That previous arrest did indeed lead to quite positive communication between the relevant agencies. However, it is important to emphasise that the individuals detained by the State Security Service two days ago were solely those who continued their activities despite previous arrests and warnings. I hope that this time around, the relevant services and specific individuals involved will finally draw the correct conclusions.

Everyone must understand that the Georgian state, its intelligence services, law enforcement, and security apparatus are now strong enough to carry out unprecedented operations for our country. This includes dismantling active espionage rings and detaining their operatives, the kind of intelligence and investigative work that even much larger and more powerful nations often find incredibly difficult,” Mdinaradze noted.