Igor Giorgadze
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Igor Giorgadze (Georgian: იგორ გიორგაძე) (born 23 July 1950) is a Georgian politician, and the former Minister of State Security from 1993 to 1995, who is charged with Georgia’s former President Eduard Shevardnadze’s assassination attempt in 1995. From his base in Russia, he runs a public movement “Anti-Soros” in Georgia, and is the leader of the political party called “Samartlianoba” (Justice).
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[edit] Career
Giorgadze was born in Zaisan, Eastern Kazakhstan, on a Soviet - Chinese border. His father General Panteleimon Giorgadze, a World War II veteran and the current 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 Sate 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 Russia and grew in considerable influence in the Georgian government.
[edit] Downfall
In 1995, he was accused for having organized the August 29 1995 attempt on the life of Eduard Shevardnadze. However, Giorgadze managed to escape from Georgia. In an open letter to the president, published by Giorgadze in October of that year, he refused any connection with the terrorist attack and claimed Shevardnadze was interested in removing him prior to the forthcoming presidential elections.
Later Giorgadze was also suspected in various political assassinations of the 1994 - 1995 period and warrants were sent out to Interpol for Giorgadze's arrest. Numerous requests of Georgia, the Interpol and the US Congress for his extradition have been turned down on the ground that the Russian law enforcement agencies were unable to establish his whereabouts. However, Giorgadze is supposed to live in Moscow and he is a frequent guest of Russian TV programmes.
[edit] Opposition
In the 2000s, he once 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 a political party "Samartlianoba" (Justice) and in 2005 Giorgadze became the initiator of a political movement "Anti-Soros" which is an alliance of four opposition parties including the "Samartlianoba" party. The movement's name contains a reference to an 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. Yet Giorgadze’s party enjoys minimal support in Georgia, and is 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 Georgia's Central Election Commission (CEC) refused him to register.
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 party officials are suspected in plotting to organize a violent coup against Georgia’s current pro-Western government of President Mikheil Saakashvili. Allegations also include receiving illegal funding from abroad and collaboration with the security services of the foreign country. Reportedly, a great deal of arms and illegal money were discovered in the party offices.
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."[1]. Meanwhile, the Samartlianoba party activists and the lawyers of those arrested accuse the government in political persecution prior to the forthcoming October 5 2006 local elections. [2]
