TBILISI, March 7 – Georgia’s domestic intelligence service has opened an investigation after public statements about alleged terrorism-linked activity inside the country, and summoned ex-defense minister Tina Khidasheli and opposition politician Gubaz Sanikidze for questioning.
The case originated in statements by Khidasheli, now head of the Civic Idea organization, made on TV Pirveli, that an institution operating in Georgia was in effect a “terrorists’ school” and that its rector had been declared a successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The claim triggered a strong backlash from ruling party figures. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze called people making such claims “the biggest terrorists in this country,” while People’s Power lawmaker Guram Macharashvili said such statements were directed against Georgia and were especially serious coming from a former defense minister with access to secret information.
On Saturday, the State Security Service (SSS) said that in recent days various individuals had publicly voiced information about recruitment by other countries in Georgia and had made accusations or hints related to terrorism. The agency said it had launched an investigation and would question the authors of those statements in all directions, giving them a chance to provide concrete facts as part of the probe.
Later the same day, Interpressnews reported that Khidasheli and Sanikidze had been summoned for questioning. Both said they were ready to answer questions, but only before a magistrate judge. Khidasheli said she would go to the agency the next day, while Sanikidze said he was waiting for a judge’s call.
The SSS linked the case to a wider public debate in recent days over Iran’s influence in Georgia. In its statement, the agency also referred to claims aired publicly about foreign recruitment and noted that the issue was being examined against the backdrop of ongoing military action in the region. Separately, Interpressnews said Radio Liberty had reported on a March 3 Hudson Institute study by Giorgi Kandelaki and Luke Coffey, which said Iran was systematically expanding its influence and “influence infrastructure” in Georgia.
Macharashvili also referred to separate public comments by Major General Vakhtang Kapanadze, who said he could not rule out Iran directly striking targets in Georgia, including the U.S. Embassy or the Georgian section of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline.
