Georgian State Security exposes certain local journalists' links with foreign intelligence

Several Georgian media representatives maintained links with foreign intelligence services and received financial support from abroad in 2024, according to the annual report released by the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG).

“There was evidence of connections between certain media representatives and officials of foreign countries, and likely representatives of intelligence services, from whom they received funding and instructions, as well as to whom they passed on information on matters of interest,” the SSG report says, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

According to the SSG, foreign intelligence services made attempts in 2024 to establish contact with Georgian citizens and recruit them. In addition, foreign operatives reportedly used non-Georgian nationals residing in the country to gather information. Several incidents were documented in which foreign citizens marked GPS coordinates and captured photos and videos using drones.

The State Security Service stated that it conducted counterintelligence operations throughout the year to curb the spread of so-called "soft power," covert activities, and instruments of information warfare. The SSG’s Counterintelligence Department initiated eight criminal investigations in connection with these activities.

By Khagan Isayev