Georgia's Security Service Denies Terror Threat Behind Canceled Knesset Delegation Visit
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, December 12, 2025
The State Security Service of Georgia rejected claims on December 12 that Israeli lawmakers canceled a planned visit to Tbilisi because of a warning about a possible terrorist attack. Officials said the reports circulating in Georgian and Israeli media were unfounded and had not originated from any security agency.
In its statement, the SSSG declared, "Neither the Georgian nor the Israeli security services had any information about a potential terrorist attack in Georgia, and therefore had not shared such information with anyone." The agency added that it had spoken with Israeli partners who, according to the SSSG, "expressed surprise over the incorrect information that has been disseminated."
Earlier that morning, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty's Georgian Service had reported that several Knesset members were withdrawing from their trip to Tbilisi for the Israeli Week conference. The outlet, relying on initial Israeli media coverage, said the visit was canceled following what was described as a security alert involving a "potential terrorist attack." RFE and RL also quoted Itsik Moshe, founder of Israeli House and president of the Israel-Georgia Chamber of Business, as confirming that the lawmakers would not travel but would join the event remotely. According to the outlet, Moshe said, "the Georgian side had been informed about the alleged threat."
The SSSG responded sharply, criticizing the manner in which the reports had been published. "It is very unfortunate and telling that such information is being spread by parts of the Georgian media without verifying it with us," the agency stated. It urged journalists to refrain from circulating what it called "unverified information harmful to Georgia."
Later in the day, the SSSG issued a second statement after summoning Moshe for clarification. The agency said he explained that his information came "from a Knesset member, who in turn had been told it by some representative of the Knesset's Ethics Committee." According to the SSSG, Moshe acknowledged he "could not identify any more specific or authoritative source for the information."
The agency also reported that Moshe denied telling journalists that Georgian authorities had been directly warned. The SSSG said he clarified his remarks by explaining, "If the threat were real, the Georgian side would certainly be notified."
The dispute unfolded against the backdrop of an earlier case involving Moshe. In 2022, the SSSG announced that it had foiled an assassination attempt targeting him. At the time, officials said the plot had been ordered from abroad and involved Pakistani nationals as well as individuals holding both Georgian and Iranian citizenship.
Despite the confusion surrounding the latest reports, the SSSG insisted that there is no evidence of any current threat and described the claims prompting the cancellation of the Knesset visit as entirely without basis.
