Georgia’s Security Chief: fight against corruption will continue unrelentingly

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Head of Georgia’s State Security Service, on Thursday vowed that the fight against corruption would continue relentlessly.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Mdinaradze gave an absolute guarantee that the authorities would be intolerant of corruption.

“I have heard in recent days suggestions that this is part of pre-election PR, and I personally assure all who harbor such doubts that the fight against corruption will continue unrelentingly even after the elections, as long as our team is at the helm of this country. I give an absolute guarantee that we will be intolerant of corruption”, he said.

Mdinaradze stressed that involvement in corruption or illegal deals, especially by former team members, was tantamount to betrayal of the country.

“When the majority of our team is fighting for the country in the face of difficult challenges, entering corrupt or illegal deals on the side can be considered a direct betrayal of the team and, naturally, the country. We will tolerate no one involved in corruption”, he added.

Mdinaradze further highlighted the social impact of corruption.

“Recently, our staff held a briefing on roads and schools that were supposed to be built but weren’t. We must talk not only about the illegality and immorality of corruption, but also about its consequences - how it affects students, parents, municipalities, society, and the country as a whole. Entering corrupt deals in these conditions is a double crime, and it cannot be justified or condoned”, he concluded.