Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia
საქართველოს შინაგან საქმეთა სამინისტრო

Logo Ministry of Internal Affairs
Agency overview
Headquarters Gulua Str. N10, Tbilisi, Georgia 0102
Annual budget ₾600 million (2015)[1]
($272 million)
Agency executive
  • Giorgi Mghebrishvili,
    Minister of Internal Affairs
Website www.police.ge

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA, Georgian: საქართველოს შინაგან საქმეთა სამინისტრო) is a state law enforcement agency of Georgia.[2] It is divided in several sub branches, among many other being the Patrol Police Department, Security Police Department, the Counter Intelligence Department, the National Central Bureau of Interpol, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Operative-Technical Department,the Legal Division, the Special Tasks Department, the General Inspections Bureau, the Central Criminal Police Department, Border Police and the Police Academy.[3]

History

The Ministry of Interior was always present during the soviet rule as local administrative institution for observation and oppression of political and foreign threats. However it evolved after Georgia's independence in 1991 into a self-acting independent institution which was tasked to guarantee constitutional stability. Since then it was always engaged in conflicts or controversial events in connection to high officials but at the same time did also constantly provide force and resources for the global war on criminality and terror. The MIA was further responsible for undermining the trade with Uranium and made successful achievements in the region.

Anti terror units were or are engaged in Afghanistan since 2001 and later in Iraq in 2003-2005.

In 2005, Vladimir Arutyunian attempted to assassinate US President George W. Bush during his visit in Georgia. After the failed grenade throw at the speech of both presidents, he was caught by commandos of the Counter Terrorist Center two months later. During the operation the head of the Counterintelligence Department was shot when he was approaching the already wounded suspect.

The Georgian MIA was heavily engaged in the 2008 South Ossetia War, losing several police officers with many wounded during the fighting and also post-war border incidents,[4][5] Since then MIA personnel are securing checkpoints near the conflict zone.

Captured Nuclear elements

In 2006 Georgian intelligence services captured a diversant group carrying 100 grams of 70% enriched Uranium. The group reportedly crossed from a break away region South Ossetia that is considered to be occupied by Russian forces.[6] 4 years later in 2010 during an anti terror operation, Georgian special forces caught two ethnic Armenians carrying 16 kg of 70% enriched Uranium.[7] Georgia blamed Russia for illegal trading of nuclear elements claiming it being the only country that is able to have 70% enriched uranium in the eastern European and Mid Eastern Districts. The quantity of Uranium was enough to construct a so called dirty bomb.[8] In April 2016 three Georgians and three Armenians were arrested during a special operation conducted by the State Security Service. They were attempting to sell 1,6 kg of weapons-grade nuclear material consisting of two radioactive isotopes for about USD 200 million.[9][10]

Special divisions and agencies

The MIA deploys numerous designated sub branches for extraordinary crisis and emergency situations.[11] Those include special measures and rapid deployment capabilities for particular events such as unrests or biological and chemical warfare utilized against the civilian population by hostile entities. Employed especially for latter events is the Emergency Management Agency which is responsible for dealing with any kind of man-made or natural disasters.[12] The Special Tasks Department was established for rapid response to maintain public order and security as a supportive operational force to all other divisions. Its units are among various other obligations, also tasked with protecting the vital Baku–Supsa Pipeline.[13] The STD is also capable of performing combat operations in a supportive role for the armed forces of Georgia and did so during the 2008 war. The overall security of pipelines, however, falls under the general responsibility of the Strategic Pipelines Protection Department (SPPD).[14] The primary surgical force against crime and terrorism are the Anti-Crime Department and Special Emergency and Operations Center. Georgia's most praised and recognized unit however, the Counterterrorism Center is no longer part of the MIA but was transferred to the State Security Service[15] and has been frequently involved in international missions and maneuvers such as the most recent Jackal Stone 2016,[16] as active part of global counter-terrorism efforts since the beginning of the War on Terror.[17][18]

The structures intensively cooperate with the United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other international services in the sphere of sharing information concerning terrorism and legislative issues.[19]

Ministers of internal affairs of Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Ministers of internal affairs of Georgia

References

  1. ↑ http://www.civil.ge/geo/article.php?id=28719
  2. ↑ "Main". Police.ge. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  3. ↑ http://police.ge/en/ministry/structure-and-offices
  4. ↑ T Turmanidze (17 August 2009). "On the Special Forces of the Georgian Ministry of Interior (MIA)" (PDF). Ministry of Interior (Georgia). Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  5. ↑ "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia - Consequences of Russian aggression in Georgia". Mfa.gov.ge. 2011-04-13. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  6. ↑ Borger, Julian (23 April 2010). "Russia and Georgia clash over uranium". The Guardian. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  7. ↑ "Georgia confirms uranium seizure, blames Russia". USA Today. Associated Press. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  8. ↑ Esslemont, Tom (2010-11-08). "BBC News - Georgia foils bid to smuggle weapons-grade uranium". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  9. ↑ http://georgiatoday.ge/news/3654/Georgian-Intelligence-Arrests-Five-for-Attempted-Nuclear-Grade-Material-Sale
  10. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-29/georgia-arrests-five-for-trying-to-sell-uranium/7369232
  11. ↑ http://police.ge/en/ministry/structure-and-offices
  12. ↑ http://police.ge/en/ministry/structure-and-offices/emergency-management-department
  13. ↑ http://police.ge/en/shss-gansakutrebul-davalebata-departamentis-direqtori-ashsh-s-energetikis-departamentis-tsarmomadgenlebs-shekhvda/10056
  14. ↑ http://police.ge/en/ministry/structure-and-offices/strategiuli-milsadenebis-datsvis-departamenti
  15. ↑ http://ssg.gov.ge/en/page/aboutus/info
  16. ↑ https://www.dvidshub.net/news/208017/jackal-stone-2016-strengthens-ties-georgia
  17. ↑ http://ssg.gov.ge/en/page/counter-terrorism
  18. ↑ http://ssg.gov.ge/en/page/info/international-cooperation
  19. ↑ "კონტრტერორისტული ცენტრი" [Counterterrorist Centre (Department)]. Police.ge. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
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