Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia

History

After gaining an independence, on May 26, 1918 on the National Council meeting the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia was formed. Its main tasks included fighting counter-revolutionary rallies and Bolshevik propaganda, combating embezzlement of public funds, etc. On 25 February 1921, with the help of Russia, the Georgian Bolsheviks overthrew the legitimate Menshevik government of Georgia. Since this day, the independent Ministry of Internal Affairs was disbanded. By the Decision of Georgian Revolutionary Committee of March 6, 1921, the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs of Georgia was established. On August 8, 1941, by the Decree of the Presidium of Supreme Council of Georgian SSR, the People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs and the People's Commissariat of State Security have merged into People's Commissariat of Internal Affairs. On April 15, 1953, the Supreme Council of Georgian SSR adopted a law on Transformation of state ministries of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Georgia. According to the new law, the State Security Ministry merged into the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgian SSR. On April 10, 1954, by the Decree of the Presidium of Supreme Council of Georgian SSR, the State Security Committee (KGB) under the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR was founded. On September 18, 1962, under the Decree of the Supreme Council of Georgian SSR, the Ministry of Internal affairs of Georgian SSR has become the republican Ministry of Public Safety. On November 19, 1968, it recovered its old name – the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Since the introduction of extensive reforms of Georgian law enforcement in 2003, the Ministry of State Security merged into the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Based on the reforms implemented during 2015, organizational and institutional separation of police and state security services was carried out. An Independent State Security Service was formed.

Special divisions and agencies

The MIA deploys numerous designated sub branches for extraordinary crisis and emergency situations. Those include special measures and rapid deployment capabilities for particular events such as unrests or biological and chemical warfare utilized against the civilian population by hostile entities. Employed especially for latter events is the Emergency Management Agency which is responsible for dealing with any kind of man-made or natural disasters. The Special Tasks Department was established for rapid response to maintain public order and security as a supportive operational force to all other divisions. Its units are among various other obligations, also tasked with protecting the vital Baku–Supsa Pipeline. The STD is also capable of performing combat operations in a supportive role for the armed forces of Georgia and did so during the 2008 war. The overall security of pipelines, however, falls under the general responsibility of the Strategic Pipelines Protection Department (SPPD). The primary surgical force against crime and terrorism are the Anti-Crime Department and Special Emergency and Operations Center. Georgia's most praised and recognized unit however, the Counterterrorism Center is no longer part of the MIA but was transferred to the State Security Service and has been frequently involved in international missions and maneuvers such as the most recent Jackal Stone 2016, as active part of global counter-terrorism efforts since the beginning of the War on Terror.

The structures intensively cooperate with the United Nations, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and other international services in the sphere of sharing information concerning terrorism and legislative issues.

Responsibilities

Organization

The Ministry is headed by a Minister, who has four Deputies.

Police Force

Special Agencies

LEPLs

Other Agencies

Ministers of internal affairs of Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Ministers of internal affairs of Georgia