Security Officials Arrested after Defying New Chief

Deputy Security Minister Gigi Ugulava said several officials of the Samegrelo regional security service were arrested after they tried to obstruct appointment of the new chief of the regional security service.

“Security Minister [Zurab Adeishvili] appointed today Temur Gabunia as a chief of Samegrelo regional department. However, the former chief and several his supporters, who were against of this appointment obstructed him to take over the office and threatened Gabunia,” Gigi Ugulava, the Deputy Security Minister said at a news briefing on March 3.

“As a result of the special operation carried out by the Interior and Security Ministries’ special forces several high officials were arrested, including former chief of the Samegrelo regional department of the Security Ministry,” Gigi Ugulava added.

Earlier today reports said that dozens of employees of the Samegrelo regional department of the Security Ministry refused to fulfill duties as a protest against the new appointment. Protesters claimed that Temur Gabunia is “unprofessional.”

“We will continue new appointments and will fire all the employees of the Security Ministry, which are suspected in links with the criminal clans. We will meet opposition from them, but we will not step back. We will clean up the Ministry from criminal elements,” Deputy Security Minister told reporters.