TBILISI (Realist English). Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has formally awarded the rank of lieutenant of state security to newly appointed State Security Service (SSG) chief Mamuka Mdinaradze, according to a decree signed on September 3, immediately after parliament confirmed him in the post.
The order states: “To the head of the State Security Service of Georgia, police lieutenant Mamuka Mdinaradze, confer the corresponding intermediate special rank of lieutenant of state security.”
Mdinaradze, 47, replaces Anri Okhanashvili, who resigned after only four months in office. Okhanashvili, a political appointee with no security background, faced mounting criticism during his brief tenure.
Like his predecessor, Mdinaradze also lacks experience in intelligence. Before entering politics, he worked as a lawyer and investigator in Georgia’s tax service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In parliament, he became known as a prominent figure of the ruling Georgian Dream party, serving as majority leader and executive secretary.
As one of the party’s chief spokespersons, Mdinaradze has drawn attention for promoting conspiracy narratives about a so-called “global war party” and the influence of the Deep State.
His appointment underscores the continuing politicisation of Georgia’s security services, with critics questioning whether senior posts are being filled on the basis of loyalty rather than professional expertise.