Georgian Intelligence Service
Encyclopedia
The Georgian Intelligence Service (GIS) is a national intelligence agency
of Georgia
, with its headquarters in Tbilisi
. The current head of the service is Gela Bezhuashvili
, appointed in 2008.
The GIS is directly subordinated to the President of Georgia
. It is responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment and conducting counter-intelligence duties abroad.
in 1991, Georgia established its own intelligence agency, the Service for Information and Intelligence (საინფორმაციო–სადაზვერვო სამსახური), on the basis of the Soviet-era State Security Service. From 1993 to 1997, it functioned as the Chief Directorate for Foreign Intelligence (საგარეო დაზვერვის მთავარი სამმართველო) under the Ministry for State Security. On September 19, 1997, the agency was transformed into an independent State Intelligence Department (დაზვერვის სახელმწიფო დეპარტამენტი), with two regional divisions for Adjara
and Abkhazia
. Being briefly under the Ministry for State Security from 2004 to 2005, the agency was again made independent as the Foreign Intelligence Special Service (საგარეო დაზვერვის სპეციალური სამსახური) on January 24, 2005. The current name—Georgian Intelligence Service—was adopted in compliance with the new intelligence legislature passed in the Parliament of Georgia
on April 27, 2010.
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, with its headquarters in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. The current head of the service is Gela Bezhuashvili
Gela Bezhuashvili
Gela Bezhuashvili is a Georgian politician and the current head of the Georgian Intelligence Service since February 1, 2008...
, appointed in 2008.
The GIS is directly subordinated to the President of Georgia
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
. It is responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment and conducting counter-intelligence duties abroad.
History
After the declaration of independence from the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1991, Georgia established its own intelligence agency, the Service for Information and Intelligence (საინფორმაციო–სადაზვერვო სამსახური), on the basis of the Soviet-era State Security Service. From 1993 to 1997, it functioned as the Chief Directorate for Foreign Intelligence (საგარეო დაზვერვის მთავარი სამმართველო) under the Ministry for State Security. On September 19, 1997, the agency was transformed into an independent State Intelligence Department (დაზვერვის სახელმწიფო დეპარტამენტი), with two regional divisions for Adjara
Adjara
Adjara , officially the Autonomous Republic of Adjara , is an autonomous republic of Georgia.Adjara is located in the southwestern corner of Georgia, bordered by Turkey to the south and the eastern end of the Black Sea...
and Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
. Being briefly under the Ministry for State Security from 2004 to 2005, the agency was again made independent as the Foreign Intelligence Special Service (საგარეო დაზვერვის სპეციალური სამსახური) on January 24, 2005. The current name—Georgian Intelligence Service—was adopted in compliance with the new intelligence legislature passed in the Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
on April 27, 2010.
Structure
The GIS consists of five principal subdivisions. These are:- Analytical Directorate
- Information Directorate
- Security Directorate
- Administrative Directorate
- Training Center
Heads of Georgian intelligence agency (1997—present)
- Avtandil Ioseliani (September 1997—February 2004)
- Valeri Chkheidze (February 2004—June 2004)
- Batu Kutelia (June 2004—October 2004)
- Anna ZhvaniaAnna ZhvaniaAnna Zhvania is the former head of the foreign intelligence branch of Georgia in 2006-2008, being the first female to have been appointed to this post in Georgia. She had also formerly served as an advisor to the President of Georgia on civic integration and programme coordinator of the Liberty...
(October 2004—February 2008) - Gela BezhuashviliGela BezhuashviliGela Bezhuashvili is a Georgian politician and the current head of the Georgian Intelligence Service since February 1, 2008...
(February 2008—incumbent)