Georgian State Security Service Chief: elections will be peaceful, attempts at destabilisation will be met with strict response

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Head of Georgia’s State Security Service, on Wednesday said the upcoming local elections scheduled for Saturday would be conducted peacefully, stressing that there were no grounds to expect otherwise.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Mdinaradze noted that certain groups may attempt to cause unrest, but any excessive actions would be met with a firm response from the authorities.

“I advise everyone not to step beyond the boundaries of the law. Otherwise, they will receive a very tough response”, he warned.

Mdinaradze further added that intelligence was indicating some internal groups were considering provocative actions designed to spark public outrage, as the current political climate does not resemble previous periods of mass protests.

“They are discussing scenarios that could generate strong emotions among the public. I do not advise anyone to even think about this, let alone attempt it, because the response will be very strict, and they will not like the consequences”, he continued.

The Security Service chief underscored that while protests were a democratic right, they must remain within the framework of the law.

“If people want to protest, they can do so, but without stepping outside legal boundaries. Elections will be held with dignity, we will face the challenges, and the Georgian state, already strong, will only become stronger”, Mdinaradze concluded.