- Ministry of Internal Affairs (Georgia)
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Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia საქართველოს შინაგან საქმეთა სამინისტრო 
Coat of Arms of Georgia 
Logo of MIA Agency overview Formed 2004 Headquarters Gulua Str. N10, Tbilisi, Georgia 0102 Agency executives Vano Merabishvili,
Minister of Culture and Monument Protection
Eka Zguladze, First Deputy Minister
Amiran Meskheli, Shalva Janashvili, Giorgi Lortkipanidze, Deputy MinistersWebsite www.police.ge The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA, Georgian: საქართველოს შინაგან საქმეთა სამინისტრო) is a state law enforcement agency of the Republic of Georgia.[1] As of 2011 Vano Merabishvili is the minister. It is divided in several sub branches, such as the Counter Intelligence Department, the Counter Terror Center, the Special Operative Department (SOD), the Constitutional Security Department (KUD), the Special Tasks Main Division, the General Inspections Bureau, the Criminal Police Department, the Security Police, the Border Police and the Police Academy.[2][3]
The Special Tasks Main Division supports regional police forces with special units and performs various tasks to protect public order. It is the largest formation of the branch. The Special Operations Department is divided into several sub divisions, which conduct anti-terrorist and anti-criminal operations with special weapons and tactics. In addition to that, a small Special Forces unit is maintained by the ministry’s Constitutional Security Department, which protects the state from the activities of radical/extremist-minded groups and organizations.
The Counter Terror Center provides elite Special Forces groups which conduct internal and external operations to prevent terrorist activities or other similar threats against humanity, inside and abroad the Republic of Georgia. Authorized strength is secret, operators are picked from MIA and Military Special Forces. The Centre implements the following measures:[4]
- Obtains preliminary information on possible terrorist act against the President of Georgia, other officials or members of their family, physical persons or legal entities under international protection;
- Reveals and prevents politically motivated terrorist activities or threats against human freedom;
- Reveals and prevents terrorist acts against state strategic, political or economic interests of Georgia;
- Reveals illegally armed groups and terrorist organizations in the territory of Georgia and prevents their activities;
- Reveals and prevents facts concerning preparation of terrorist acts, international terrorism and illegal immigration;
- Checks possible contacts and assistance by foreign citizens entered the territory of Georgia to terrorist organizations within its competence;
- Obtains preliminary information on illegal acquirement of nuclear, radioactive, chemical or bacteriological weapons or any other substance harmful to human health, as well as misappropriation of strategic and special important facilities with terrorist purpose
In 2005, Vladimir Arutyunian attempted to assassinate US President George W. Bush during his visit in Georgia. After the failed grenade throw at the speech of both presidents, he was caught by Commandos of the Counter Terrorist Center two months later. During the operation Arutyunian was seriously injured while killing Georgia's head of the Counterintelligence Department.[5]
The structures intensively cooperate with the UN, OSCE, NATO and other international services in the sphere of sharing information concerning terrorism and legislative issues.[6]
Internal Forces were heavily engaged during the 2008 South Ossetia War, losing several police officers with many injured,[7][8] being directly involved in the Georgian assault on the city of Tskhinvali. MIA units were transported with Otokar Cobra armoured vehicles and Landrover pickups to the scene. After President Saakashvili's announcement of bilateral ceasefire, MIA Special Forces were the only units maintaining their positions close to Russian forces, while the Georgian Army completely withdrew from the conflict zone. Other vehicles in use, are the Wolf Armoured Vehicle and the Nurol Ejder APC.
Special Forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia are equipped with various weapons and systems for conventional and nonconventional warfare in different circumstances and environments. These include latest communication and surveillance systems, detection and engagement systems, as well as latest individual tactical gear. Firearms in use since development are the following:
- M4A1
- Heckler & Koch G36
- Bushmaster M4 Type Carbine
- FN SCAR
- IMI Galil MAR
- TAR-21
- GTAR-21
- MTAR-21
- STAR-21
- CTAR-21
- Heckler & Koch MP5
- Heckler & Koch UMP
- Škorpion vz. 61
- AS Val - used only by the SOD
- Heckler & Koch SL8
- M24 Sniper Weapon System
- M40 rifle
- AIAW Sniper Rifle
- Barrett M82A1
- Nemesis Rifle
- Barrett M95 - used only by the SOD
References
- ^ http://police.ge/?lng=eng
- ^ http://police.ge/?lng=geo
- ^ http://police.ge/index.php?m=195
- ^ http://police.ge/?lng=geo
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Arutyunian
- ^ http://police.ge/index.php?m=255
- ^ http://georgiaupdate.gov.ge/en/tagliavini/8889978bcbb7926dba3d9d1ca2004a73/99392fd3ad8c4397ac323c9f3e7538aa
- ^ http://www.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=597
External links
Government Ministries of GeorgiaState Ministries Euro-Atlantic Integration • Reintegration • Foreign Affairs • Finance • Internal Affairs • Diaspora Issues • IDPs from the Occuppied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees • Regional Development and Infrastructure • Defense • Education and Science • Economy and Sustainable Development • Agriculture • Justice • Culture and Monument Protection • Environment Protection and Natural Resources • Energy • Health, Labour and Social Affairs • Corrections and Legal Assistance • Sport & Youth AffairsCategories:- Government of Georgia (country)
- Law enforcement in Georgia (country)
- Government ministries of Georgia (country)
- Georgia (country) stubs
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