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

Carrying out preventive measures with the aim to combat crime and other offences

Detection and response to crime and other offences

Protection and control of the state border (including maritime border)

Protection of strategic pipelines

Prevention of and fight against illegal migration

Carrying out of licensing, permitting and registration activities

Ensuring the Road safety

Carrying out search and rescue activities

Carrying out the activities in the state of emergency and in the wartime as prescribed by the law

Implementing civil protection measures during emergencies

Carrying out forensic activities

Training and skills development of police and state security personnel

Organization

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

Police Force

Central Criminal Police Department

Patrol Police Department

Joint Operations Center

Border Police of Georgia (Subordinate State Agency)

National Central Bureau of Interpol in Georgia (Department)

Police Department of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia

Police Department of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara

Tbilisi Police Department

Mtskheta-Mtianeti Police Department

Shida Kartli Police Department

Kvemo Kartli Police Department

Kakheti Police Department

Samtskhe-Javakheti Police Department

Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Police Department

Guria Police Department

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Police Department

Special Agencies

Strategic Pipelines Protection Department

Special Tasks Department

Infrastructure Protection Department

LEPLs

Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Security Police Department

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Service Agency

Healthcare Service

State Material Reserves Department

Emergency Situations Management Agency (Department)

Other Agencies

Administration of the Ministry (Department)

General Inspection (Department)

Economic Department

Logistics Department

Human Resources Management Department

Forensic-Criminalistics Department

Information-Analytical Department

Operative Department

Research and Development Department

International Relations Department

Temporary Detention Department

Public Relations Department

Internal Audit Department

Migration Department

Legal Department

Ministers of internal affairs of Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

David Kiladze, 15 July – 11 November 1934

Sergo Goglidze, 11 November 1934 – 14 November 1938

Avksenti Rapava, 19 November 1938 – 26 February 1941

Varlam Kakuchaia, 26 February – 31 July 1941

Avksenti Rapava, 31 July 1941 – 7 May 1943

Grigori Karanadze, 7 May 1943 – 8 April 1952

Vakhtang Loladze, 29 May 1952 – 16 March 1953

aleksander Kochlavashvili, 16–21 March 1953

Varlam Kakuchaia, 21 March – 10 April 1953

Vladimer Dekanozov, 10 April – 30 June 1953

Aleksi Inauri, 20 Jule 1953 – 26 March 1954

Vladimer Djandjgava, May 1954 – December 1958

Ivan Garibashvili, 18 November 1958 – 16 August 1961

Otar Kavtaradze, 16 August 1961 – 22 May 1965

Eduard Shevardnadze, 22 May 1965 – 1972

Konstantin Ketiladze, 18 August 1972 – 26 May 1979

Guram Gvetadze, 26 May 1979 – 21 January 1986

Shota Gorgodze, 22 January 1986 – 23 November 1990

Dilar Khabuliani, 23 November 1990 – December 1991

Ministers of internal affairs of Georgia

David Salaridze, December 1991 – January 1992

Roman Gventsadze, January 1992 - November 1992

Temur Khachishvili, November 1992 – September 1993

Eduard Shevardnadze, September 1993 – 31 March 1994

Shota Kviraia, 31 March 1994 – 2 September 1995

Kakha Targamadze, 2 September 1995 – 2001

Koba Narchemashvili, 2001 – November 2003

Giorgi Baramidze, November 2003 – 7 June 2004

Irakli Okruashvili, 7 June 2004 – 17 December 2004

Ivane Merabishvili, 18 December 2004 – 4 July 2012

Bachana Akhalaia, 4 July 2012 – 20 September 2012

Ekaterine Zguladze, 20 September 2012 – 25 October 2012

Irakli Gharibashvili, 25 October 2012 – 20 November 2013

Aleksandre Chikaidze, 20 November 2013 – 23 January 2015

Vakhtang Gomelauri, 26 January 2015 – 3 August 2015

Giorgi Mghebrishvili, 3 August 2015 – present