President Zourabichvili Condemns Psychological Intimidation Amid State Security Plot Warning
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The State Security Service of Georgia issued a statement alleging the existence of a criminal plan to escalate protests in Tbilisi into violent efforts to overthrow the government. The statement, released amidst ongoing demonstrations outside the Parliament building, accuses "local actors" and foreign coordination of attempting to incite unrest through violence and propaganda.
The Security Service claims that these alleged organizers aim to disrupt the presidential election scheduled for December 14. According to the statement, the perpetrators plan to intensify protests in the coming days, potentially resulting in casualties to amplify public outrage.
"For this purpose, the organizers of the crime are considering, especially on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the current week, as well as partially on Friday, to intensify the situation as much as possible, which should result in 2-3 victims." the statement reads.
The statement also implicates masked individuals in acts of violence, including assaults on law enforcement and civilians, suggesting these are part of a broader strategy to destabilize the government. One notable incident cited is the attack on journalists, described as a likely component of the alleged criminal plan.
The Service warns of a "color revolution" scenario involving staged rituals, destruction, and violence to incite public anger and undermine the authorities. It claims that foreign special services are involved in coordinating these efforts.
In response, President Salome Zourabichvili criticized the Security Service's statement, accusing it of employing psychological intimidation tactics against citizens.
"This spinning of some scenarios, whatever scenario includes 'corpses,' is psychological terrorizing of people," Zourabichvili said. She argued that the peaceful nature of the protests is evident by the absence of Titushky or "others" inciting violence against demonstrators.
The president further suggested that the statement might infringe on human rights, as it portrays an alarming narrative without substantial evidence, potentially stoking public fear.
