Euromaidan, explosion, aimless shooting Coup d'état plans in Georgia

The Georgian State Security Service has said that a big group of military personnel of Georgian origin involved in the conflict in Ukraine and some Georgian young people, under the influence of an interested side, being trained near the Polish-Ukrainian state border, will be used to organise civil unrest in Georgia with the aim of a coup.

One of the authors of the plan is Deputy Interior Minister during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili, and now Deputy Head of Ukraine’s military intelligence Giorgi Lortkipanidze, the State Security Service said, Caliber.Az reports citing the Georgian media.

Civil unrest is planned to be carried out in Georgia through the coordination and financial support of foreign countries. The period for the beginning of destructive processes accounts for October-December 2023, when the interim report of the European Commission and the final reports of the European Union on granting Georgia the status of a candidate country for joining the EU should be published.

CANVAS organisation, the core of which is the Otpor organisation, is used to train youth groups to involve them in a revolutionary scenario, the State Security Service reports.

“These organisations took an active part in the revolutionary processes in Serbia in the past, and, accordingly, are regularly used in different countries to train young people and involve them in destructive processes,” the statement says.

These individuals are considering several scenarios for the development of events, including the creation of the so-called “tent city”, erection of barricades near the central avenues and strategic facilities of Georgia, barricading of government buildings, as well as other illegal actions containing elements of provocation.

“In particular, it is known that the coup organisers are considering the possibility of implementing a scenario in Georgia similar to the Euromaidan in Ukraine in 2014,” the statement said.

Moreover, it is known that an explosive device will be planted in a pre-selected tent in the territory of the so-called “tent city” at the site where the rallies organised by Lortkipanidze and former security guard of Saakashvili - Mikhail Baturin will be held. The coup organisers intend to detonate it.

“According to their criminal plan, this should lead to casualties among the civilians participating in the protests and law enforcement officials. In case of a terrorist attack, destructive forces hope for aimless shooting between law enforcement officers and protesters, which will create fertile ground for further civil confrontation,” the State Security Service said.

The State Security Service noted that such provocations against Georgia were planned to be made earlier, although in the past they were prevented thanks to the effective and preventive response of law enforcement officers.

“Taking into account the challenges of the current complex geopolitical situation, as opposed to previous cases, the current plan poses a much higher risk that threatens the security of the country, as well as the life, well-being and health of the Georgian people,” the statement said.

The State Security Service is implementing and will implement all necessary preventive measures in cooperation with other competent agencies to neutralise these risks, the statement said.

Moreover, the State Security Service contacts the corresponding departments of partner countries on this issue to obtain additional operational information.