Georgia’s security services accuse Georgian legion of plotting pro-EU coup
- 18 September, 14:49
Georgia’s national security agency, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG), claims it has uncovered a Ukraine-backed plot to topple the government through mass protests.
In a briefing on September 18, deputy director of the counterterrorism unit of SSG, Bacha Mgeladze, claimed that Kyiv’s deputy head of military intelligence and jailed former Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili were behind the plot that was aimed to orchestrate Ukraine’s “Euromaidan” of 2014. Mgeladze said volunteers of Georgian Legion who are currently fighting against Russia in Ukraine would be used to organize the plot.
The SSG claimed that persons in Mikheil Saakashvili’s inner circle - including his bodyguard Mikheil Baturin and Mamuka Mamulashvili - were among the conspirators.
According to these claims, conspirators are being trained near Ukraine’s border with Poland to take actions to overthrow the government that also include a plan to commit a terrorist act - staging an explosion in one of the tents during the street protests. The protests will be staged on the basis that the EU will issue a negative response to Georgia’s membership bid as part of the bloc’s enlargement plans in October, the security service claimed.
The SSG’s claims were refuted by the commander of the Georgian Legion, Mamulashvili, who said Kremlin was likely behind these accusations.“Georgian Legion became a serious headache for the Russians, we caused a very serious loss. Therefore, they are embittered and try to take us in their hands,” Mamulashvili said.
The SSC’s assertions mark the latest escalation of tensions between the two post Soviet countries. The service has not provided any proof to back its claims.
