Igor Giorgadze
Encyclopedia
Igor Giorgadze (born 23 July 1950) is a Georgian
politician, a former Minister of State Security (1993–1995) and the current leader of the `´Samartlianoba´´(Justice) Party.
, on a Soviet
- Chinese
border. His father General Panteleimon Giorgadze, a World War II
veteran and the former head of United Communist Party of Georgia
, wanted his son to receive military education. In 1968 Giorgadze got accepted at the prestigious Higher School of the USSR Committee for State Security (KGB
) in Moscow
. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in Jurisprudence
and foreign languages. Besides Georgian and Russian, he speaks Turkish and French as well as Serbo-Croatian
and Azeri
.
Lieutenant-General Giorgadze held various posts with the security services of the Republic of Georgia. From 1980 to 1981 he also took part in combat operations in Afghanistan
as a member of the KGB "Cascade" task group in the city of Kandahar
. He has been awarded fifteen government decorations, including the "For Merit in Combat" medal and holds the title of "Honorary Officer of the KGB of the USSR".
During the 1992-1993 civil war
between the adherents of the first Georgian president Zviad Gamsakhurdia
and his opponents, Igor Giorgadze sided with Eduard Shevardnadze
and in 1993, was appointed the country's Minister of State Security. During his ministerial tenure Giorgadze actively promoted working relations with the special services of Turkey, Russia, the United States and grew in considerable influence in the Georgian government.
In 2003 he founded the political party "Samartlianoba" (Justice), and in 2005 Giorgadze became the initiator of the political movement "Anti-Soros" which is an alliance of four opposition parties including Samartlianoba. The movement's name refers to the American billionaire George Soros
. The party advocates closer economic and political ties with the Russian Federation and criticizes the current government for its pro-NATO course. However, Giorgadze’s party enjoys minimal support in Georgia, and has been accused of being funded by the Russian security services.
Despite being abroad, Igor Giorgadze attempted to run for President of Georgia in the 2000 and 2004 elections, but on each occasion Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) refused to register him.
On September 6, 2006, Georgian police
arrested over 30 members of the "Samartlianoba" party and its satellite political groups in a round-up in the nation’s capital Tbilisi
and elsewhere in the country.
The arrested were accused of plotting to organize a violent coup against the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili
. Allegations also include receiving illegal funding from abroad and collaboration with the security services of a foreign country.
Georgian media
quoted President Saakashvili as saying, "These people will receive what they deserve and their patrons and sponsors will see this. As far as I know hysteric attempts were underway [to plot coup]. The wine embargo [by Russia] has failed to bring results, military provocations as well; so this kind of things [plotting coup] has been left on their disposal, but these attempts will not harm us if we are consolidated."http://207.44.135.100/eng/article.php?id=13482. The defendants, among whom is Giorgadze's niece Maia Topuria, were convicted and sentenced from 4 to 8 years of imprisonment http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0917/p07s02-woeu.htm. Topuria's American legal council have decryed the decision to close the courtroom http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-28-2007/0004555161&EDATE= and have urged the government of Georgia to stop the political persecutions against the defendants http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-19-2007/0004548321&EDATE=. The trial is under appeal in Strasbourg
.
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...
politician, a former Minister of State Security (1993–1995) and the current leader of the `´Samartlianoba´´(Justice) Party.
Career
Giorgadze was born in Zaisan, Eastern KazakhstanKazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, on a Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
- Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
border. His father General Panteleimon Giorgadze, a World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran and the former head of United Communist Party of Georgia
United Communist Party of Georgia
The United Communist Party of Georgia is a political party in Georgia. It was founded in 1994 through the merger of the Stalin Society, the Georgian Workers Communist Party and the Union of Communists of Georgia...
, wanted his son to receive military education. In 1968 Giorgadze got accepted at the prestigious Higher School of the USSR Committee for State Security (KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
) in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He graduated in 1973 with a degree in Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
and foreign languages. Besides Georgian and Russian, he speaks Turkish and French as well as Serbo-Croatian
Serbo-Croatian language
Serbo-Croatian or Serbo-Croat, less commonly Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian , is a South Slavic language with multiple standards and the primary language of Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro...
and Azeri
Azerbaijani language
Azerbaijani or Azeri or Torki is a language belonging to the Turkic language family, spoken in southwestern Asia by the Azerbaijani people, primarily in Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran...
.
Lieutenant-General Giorgadze held various posts with the security services of the Republic of Georgia. From 1980 to 1981 he also took part in combat operations in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
as a member of the KGB "Cascade" task group in the city of Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
. He has been awarded fifteen government decorations, including the "For Merit in Combat" medal and holds the title of "Honorary Officer of the KGB of the USSR".
During the 1992-1993 civil war
Georgian Civil War
The Georgian Civil War consisted of inter-ethnic and intranational conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia , as well as the violent military coup d'etat of December 21, 1991 - January 6, 1992 against the first democratically elected President of Georgia, Zviad Gamsakhurdia and his...
between the adherents of the first Georgian president Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia
Zviad Gamsakhurdia was a dissident, scientist and writer, who became the first democratically elected President of the Republic of Georgia in the post-Soviet era...
and his opponents, Igor Giorgadze sided with Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze
Eduard Shevardnadze is a former Soviet, and later, Georgian statesman from the height to the end of the Cold War. He served as President of Georgia from 1995 to 2003, and as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist Party , from 1972 to 1985. Shevardnadze was responsible for many top decisions on...
and in 1993, was appointed the country's Minister of State Security. During his ministerial tenure Giorgadze actively promoted working relations with the special services of Turkey, Russia, the United States and grew in considerable influence in the Georgian government.
Downfall
On August 29, 1995 there was an attempt on the life of, the then president, Eduard Shevardnadze after which Giorgadze was removed from his post. On 4 September, Giorgadze left Georgia after giving a press conference where he announced his plans to move to Moscow. After leaving the country Giorgadze wrote an open letter to Shevardnadze where he called Shevardnadze's regime a "Mafia State". Soon after the letter the allegations implicating his involvement in the August 29th assassinaiton attempt followed and warrants were sent to Interpol for Giorgadze's arrest. In 1997 there was a trial called the "Trial of the Century" where those accused of involvement with the assassination attempt against Shevardnadze were tried. With 13 defendants and 365 witnesses the prosecution was unable to link Giorgadze to the terrorist act as neither the defendants nor witnesses testified against him. Claims against Giorgadze remain unproven yet the charges have not been dropped. Giorgadze himself has always denied any involvement with the August 29th assassinaiton attempt and accused the Georgian government of political prosecution.Opposition
In the 2000s, he again attempted to enter Georgia's political arena. In July, 2001 the "Samshoblo" ("Motherland") All-Georgia Patriotic Alliance was officially registered in Tbilisi. The organization, comprising nine parties and popular movements, elected Giorgadze its Chairman.In 2003 he founded the political party "Samartlianoba" (Justice), and in 2005 Giorgadze became the initiator of the political movement "Anti-Soros" which is an alliance of four opposition parties including Samartlianoba. The movement's name refers to the American billionaire George Soros
George Soros
George Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
. The party advocates closer economic and political ties with the Russian Federation and criticizes the current government for its pro-NATO course. However, Giorgadze’s party enjoys minimal support in Georgia, and has been accused of being funded by the Russian security services.
Despite being abroad, Igor Giorgadze attempted to run for President of Georgia in the 2000 and 2004 elections, but on each occasion Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) refused to register him.
On September 6, 2006, Georgian police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
arrested over 30 members of the "Samartlianoba" party and its satellite political groups in a round-up in the nation’s capital 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...
and elsewhere in the country.
The arrested were accused of plotting to organize a violent coup against the government of President Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
. Allegations also include receiving illegal funding from abroad and collaboration with the security services of a foreign country.
Georgian media
Georgian Media
The Media in Georgia is relatively accessible and caters to a wide variety of audiences. A large percentage of households have a television, and most have at least one radio...
quoted President Saakashvili as saying, "These people will receive what they deserve and their patrons and sponsors will see this. As far as I know hysteric attempts were underway [to plot coup]. The wine embargo [by Russia] has failed to bring results, military provocations as well; so this kind of things [plotting coup] has been left on their disposal, but these attempts will not harm us if we are consolidated."http://207.44.135.100/eng/article.php?id=13482. The defendants, among whom is Giorgadze's niece Maia Topuria, were convicted and sentenced from 4 to 8 years of imprisonment http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0917/p07s02-woeu.htm. Topuria's American legal council have decryed the decision to close the courtroom http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-28-2007/0004555161&EDATE= and have urged the government of Georgia to stop the political persecutions against the defendants http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-19-2007/0004548321&EDATE=. The trial is under appeal in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.