The United States Department of State has released its 2023 State of Terrorism Report, which evaluates global efforts to combat terrorism, including those undertaken by Georgia.

The State Security Service (SSG) of Georgia issued a statement highlighting key findings related to the country. According to the SSG, the report underscores Georgia’s steadfast commitment to counterterrorism and its role as a reliable security partner of the United States.

“The report notes that the terrorism-related situation in Georgia remained calm and stable, with no recorded terrorist incidents. Additionally, no Georgian nationals were identified as having travelled to Syria or Iraq in 2023 for terrorist activities.

The US Department of State commended Georgia’s counterterrorism capabilities, specifically highlighting the pivotal role of the State Security Service as the leading agency in the fight against terrorism:

As the report notes, “Georgia is generally capable of detecting, deterring, and responding to terrorism incidents. The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has the mandate to handle terrorism-related incidents and investigations and works closely through its Counterterrorism Center with the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Justice, and Defense and the Prosecution Service of Georgia, among others, as well as with international partners. SSSG is generally well equipped and well trained, and its Counterterrorism Unit continues to receive regular training and equipment from international partners and conducts internal training.”

The report reflects the counter-terrorism measures taken by the State Security Service during the reporting period, including in April, SSG detained one citizen on charges of joining ISIS and assisting terrorist activities.  In May, July, and November, the service conducted special operations to detain a total of eight citizens and three foreign nationals on charges of joining ISIS, assisting terrorist activities, and possessing explosive substances and ammunition.

The document states that Georgia is a member of MONEYVAL (the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering [AML] Measures and the Financing of Terrorism), and its Financial Intelligence Unit, the Financial Monitoring Service of Georgia, is a member of the Egmont Group.  In April, Georgia adopted its 2023-26 National Strategy for Facilitating the Prevention, Detection and Suppression of Money Laundering, Terrorism Financing, and WMD Proliferation and the accompanying action plan.  Parliament adopted amendments to the AML/Countering the Financing of Terrorism law to enhance the legal framework on the targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism, terrorism financing, and proliferation.  In March, Georgia participated for the first time in European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation’s (or Europol’s) Terrorist Finance Tracking Program, having joined in late 2022,” the SSG stated.