Georgian volunteers from Ukraine are interrogated

The State Security Service of Georgia has begun calling up Georgian citizens who volunteered to fight in Ukraine for questioning. So far, three people have been called up: Nadim Khmaladze, Vazha Tsetsadze and anti-occupation movement activist Lasha Chigladze. According to the TV channel “Mtavari Arkhi”, the State Security Service has also called up veteran Beso Bendeliani.

Mamuka Mamulashvili, the commander of the “Georgian Legion” fighting in Ukraine, told The Insider that about 300 people from Georgia are being sought who are taking part in the fighting in Ukraine. He noted that most of them are still in Ukraine. Mamulashvili also stressed that he does not know Khmaladze and Chigladze, as they probably fought with other units.

Summons for questioning by the Georgian State Security Service

“I, Nadim Khmaladze, am being summoned by the State Security Service on charges of terrorism and plotting a coup,” Khmaladze wrote on Facebook.

He stated that the reason for the summons is his participation in protests against the law on “foreign agents” and his two-year struggle on the side of Ukraine.

“If I fight a terrorist country, I am probably a terrorist.

The elections are coming and they don’t want to involve active people like us. I’m sure this is a Kremlin order,” Khmaladze wrote.

Chigladze is accused of conspiring against the authorities with the aim of overthrowing them, according to the government television channel “Imedi”. The exact meaning of this charge is unclear, however, because the case is secret.

“Now they told me that an investigation has been launched into the coup attempt a year ago. They had questions about it — they asked me these general questions when I came back from Ukraine,” Chigladze said in an interview with the TV channel “Mtavari.”

“This case has a directly political character. Lasha (Chigladze) was summoned because he fought against Russia in Ukraine,” said his lawyer, Lasha Tkesheladze.

According to NEWSGEORGIA, Chigladze was interrogated in the Tbilisi court in the presence of a judge. Khmaladze will be interrogated in the same way in the coming days.

War veteran Beso Bendeliani indicated that he does not plan to appear at the State Security Service in the coming days until it is clear why exactly he is being called up.

“Yesterday an unknown investigator contacted me. I asked for his name, surname and phone number, but he remained silent. Therefore, I officially declare that I do not intend to go to the State Security Service tomorrow or in the coming days, until it is clear why exactly I am being summoned.

As for the commotion around me, quite a few friends and comrades who took part in the struggle for Georgia’s independence — both for territorial integrity and in Ukraine — have been called up. I want to warn the authorities, including Mr Ivanishvili, that it is impossible to intimidate us, the fighters and veterans of Georgia, and that the authorities cannot stop us from fighting for a better future for this country.

“Veterans cannot participate in actions that would be unconstitutional,” Bendeliani stressed in an interview with the TV channel “Pirveli.”

According to Bendeliani’s lawyer, Tornike Chikovani, the case is classified as “top secret” and is being investigated under Article 315 of the Criminal Code, which covers conspiracy against the constitutional order of Georgia, rebellion or violent actions.

Georgian volunteers from Ukraine are interrogated

“I predicted this development” – Mamuka Mamulashvili

“I predicted this scenario (criminal prosecution of Georgian citizens fighting in Ukraine) after Russia started pursuing us (members of the ‘Georgian Legion’) and issued a wanted notice. This was done to give the Georgian authorities grounds to arrest us.

Russian and Georgian intelligence services are working synchronously today. Many of our guys who are returning to Georgia have been advised by Georgian intelligence to leave the country. The services told them: ‘There are many Russians here, we can no longer protect you, please leave.’

“I do not rule out that after the fall elections some of them will be extradited to Russia. I have already publicly disclosed information about future threats to Georgian volunteers. I am confident that sanctions will be imposed on the Georgian government,” Mamuka Mamulashvili told The Insider.

Last year, the Russian Investigative Committee convicted more than 70 members of the Georgian Legion in absentia, and Russian authorities issued a wanted notice for Mamuka Mamulashvili.

Background

On July 7 this year, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed that the US was planning a regime change in Georgia through a coup d’état scenario similar to the “Euromaidan” protests. The statement was published on the SVR website and served largely to discredit the opposition and Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller responded to the Russian accusations, saying the allegations were completely false and absurd.

In September 2023, the State Security Service of Georgia also issued a statement with similar content. The discussion at that time included mentions of “Euromaidan” and “external threats,” with specific coup organizers being identified as ethnic Georgians working in the Ukrainian government and living in Ukraine.

The author of the plan was named as Giorgi Lortkipanidze, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, who previously served as deputy interior minister under Mikhail Saakashvili’s government.

Other alleged participants included former President Mikhail Saakashvili’s former bodyguard, Mikhail Baturin, and Mamuka Mamulashvili, a member of Saakashvili’s inner circle and commander of the “Georgian Legion” operating in Ukraine.

However, no new information has been available about the investigation into this case for some time.

Georgian volunteers from Ukraine are interrogated