Georgian MP who accused west of blackmail' appointed security chief as report warns of autocratic takeover

"A Georgian Dream MP who criticised the west over a policy of blackmail and threats has been appointed to lead the country's security services as an authoritative report warned of an autocratic takeover. Mamuka Mdinaradze, who was the parliamentary majority leader for the ruling party, was confirmed on Wednesday as head of the country's powerful state security service. He has previously attacked the EU and the US for criticising the Georgian government over democratic backsliding,"

"Mdinaradze was also responsible for introducing a successor parties bill in parliament to target opposition groups said to be hostile to the ruling party. The law aims to ban political movements whose activities, the personal composition of decision-makers, or statutory goals are identical to those of the previous governing party, the United National Movement. Mdinaradze has described the UNM as anti-Georgian, anti-constitutional, anti-national and criminal."

"His appointment came as a report, published by the Rule of Law Lab at New York University School of Law and Gnomon Wise, a Georgian research institute, claimed the Georgian Dream party led by the billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili had consolidated its autocratic control. The report warns that Georgia's institutions have been systematically eroded and repurposed to entrench a personalist regime led by Ivanishvili, the chair of Georgian Dream and the country's richest man."

Mamuka Mdinaradze, a former parliamentary majority leader, was appointed head of Georgia's state security service after criticizing the EU and US for what he called policies of blackmail and threats. He introduced a successor parties bill to ban movements whose activities, leaders or goals mirror the United National Movement, which he labelled anti-Georgian, anti-constitutional, anti-national and criminal. A report by NYU's Rule of Law Lab and Georgian institute Gnomon Wise warned that Georgian Dream, led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has consolidated autocratic control by repurposing institutions. The report states courts have been politicised via the high council of justice and the prosecution is tightly controlled by loyal officials.

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