Georgian opposition figure Giorgi Kandelaki under fire for presenting evidence-free allegations on Iranian influence in Georgia

Georgia’s opposition figure Giorgi Kandelaki has come under criticism after citing unverified claims in support of a controversial article published by The Washington Free Beacon, which described Tbilisi as a “fertile ground” for Iranian recruitment and terrorist operations.

The article, written by journalist Adam Kredo, relied on statements from several critics of the Georgian government, including US Congressman Joe Wilson, analyst Luke Coffey, and Kandelaki himself.

Kandelaki claimed that Al-Mustafa International University - designated by US President Donald Trump in 2020 as linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - operates three campuses in Georgia.

According to Kandelaki, representatives of the institution were involved in plots against US interests abroad, including an assassination attempt targeting the Israeli ambassador in Mexico. He further asserted that there are “confirmed cases” in which Al-Mustafa branches were used for recruitment or operations against the United States.

However, critics note that Kandelaki failed to provide any concrete evidence or documented cases directly connecting Georgia to terrorist activity or proving that the university’s presence in the country has been used for extremist operations.

The controversy follows earlier accusations made by Kandelaki and Luke Coffey in a report published in March by the Hudson Institute, where they argued that Iranian influence in Georgia had increased under the leadership of the ruling Georgian Dream government. Opponents of the report argued that the publication similarly lacked verifiable evidence and relied heavily on political interpretations rather than confirmed security findings.