Critics Summoned as SSSG Probes ‘Motives’ of Allegations on Iranian ‘Recruitment’ in Country

2026-03-07 - 14:45

Experts and commentators have been reportedly summoned by the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) after the agency launched a probe over the “contents” and “motives” of allegations about the Iranian recruitment networks in the country. The probe follows several independent reports suggesting the growing influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Georgia, including allegations of recruitment and networks through religious and educational institutions. It also comes amid widening conflict around Iran, and following reports early in March that Greek authorities arrested a Georgian national on suspicion of espionage at the Souda Naval Base in Crete, a critical NATO and U.S. facility in the Eastern Mediterranean, with investigators examining links with Iranian intelligence. On March 6, RFE/RL’s Georgian Service said the SSSG told the outlet about the probe after the outlet asked the agency about recent allegations of Georgian nationals spying for Iran, and whether Georgian security services are watching or have detected any attempts of Iran “recruiting” personnel in Georgia. According to RFE/RL, the agency responded by saying it has the situation “under full control,” but called on the outlet to “refrain from amplifying such issues in the current period” as it was “counterproductive” for Georgian national security interests. RFE/RL further cited SSSG as telling the outlet that the agency is studying what it called the contents of “counterfactual allegations” made in recent days by different individuals “about the recruitment of personnel in Georgia by other countries for the mentioned or implied purposes,” as well as “the motivation of their authors in accusing Georgia of such issues.” The agency reportedly also told RFE/RL that an investigation has been launched and the “authors of the statements will be asked questions in every direction” and they will be given an opportunity “to name any concrete fact at least within the investigation.” On March 7, SSSG also told Interpressnews, another Georgian outlet, that the agency was studying both the “contents” and “motives” of allegations spread “regarding the recruitment of personnel in Georgia by other countries, including allegations or insinuations related to terrorism.” Experts, Commentators Summoned Reports spread later on March 7 that SSSG summoned for questioning several experts and commentators, including those who have authored articles and studies regarding Iran’s influence in Georgia. Among those summoned are reportedly Tina Khidasheli, ex-defense minister and head of Civic Idea think tank; Giorgi Kandelaki, a project manager in Soviet Past Research Laboratory; and Gubaz Sanikidze, a historian and opposition figure. Khidasheli’s Civic Idea has recently published a study suggesting a growing share of Iranian oil product imports on the Georgian market. Also, Khidasheli made comments on the opposition-leaning TV Pirveli channel on March 4, claiming that a “university” is “practically illegally” operating in one of Georgia’s minority-settled regions, which she said in fact is a “terrorist school” where “they train fighters with the spirit: Death to America, Death to Israel.” Also, on March 3, Hudson Institute published an article co-authored by Giorgi Kandelaki and Luke Coffey, the Institute’s Senior Fellow, titled “Georgia’s Iranian Turn: Tehran’s Rapid Expansion of Influence in a Once-Committed US Ally.” The study also mentions “religious and educational institutions, such as branches of the Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly and the US-sanctioned Al-Mustafa International University,” which “operate openly in Georgia and promote Tehran-aligned religious doctrine,” as well as “cultivate loyal clerical networks and provide ideological training framed as religious education.” Another opinion article, titled “Georgia is becoming Iran’s sanctions evasion hub” and authored by Keti Korkiya, was published by The Hill on February 28. The article called, among others, that the “[U.S.] Treasury Department should aggressively penalize Georgia-based individuals and entities involved in sanctions-evasion.” Georgian Dream officials have dismissed allegations about Iran’s influence, and even called similar statements “treason.” “Making such statements by Georgian citizens who talk about such grave facts that, in fact, do not exist, this is simply a treason against the country,” Kakha Kaladze, Tbilisi Mayor and Georgian Dream’s Secretary General, told the media on March 5, commenting on The Hill article. He called on “relevant structures” to take an interest in the matter. “That in Georgia, an institute, a university operates which trains terrorists is a lie,” GD MP Giorgi Volski was cited by Imedi TV on March 5. Tbilisi has attracted scrutiny over its relations with Iran over the past years, with questions intensifying amid Tehran’s crackdown on protests in the early weeks of 2026, and later the expanding conflict following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks across the region. Reacting to the conflict, Tbilisi on March 2 extended condolences to both Iran and Israel, including saying “the ongoing hostilities have claimed the highest number of lives there, including the supreme leader, other political leaders, numerous innocent civilians, and dozens of children.” On March 7, the Georgian Foreign Ministry confirmed to Georgian media outlets that a deputy foreign minister made an entry “analogous” to that government’s position in the book of condolences opened in the Iranian Embassy. Also Read: 02/07/2025 – GD Deputy Foreign Minister Attends Memorial Event at Iranian Embassy