The ruling Georgian Dream party has proposed legislative amendments that would enact a large-scale reorganization of Georgia’s security agencies. The cornerstone of this reform is the merger of the Georgian Intelligence Service (GIS) with the State Security Service (SSS). According to the legislative package – which amends 26 different laws – this change will dissolve the current structure of the GIS, previously reporting directly to the Prime Minister, and restructure it into a subdivision of the SSS called the National Intelligence Agency.
The draft law proposing the merger of the GIS and SSS was introduced by nine members of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction. The explanatory note published on the Georgian Parliament’s website justifies the consolidation by citing the “close interconnection” of the functions and objectives of the GIS and SSS. It emphasizes that unifying these functions – and the agencies responsible for executing them – under a single organizational and managerial framework will enhance the operational efficiency of both services.
Government critics from the opposition, backed by Western nations, have labeled the merger a concerning move that poses a serious threat to the country’s national security framework and institutional stability. They argue that it will consolidate power within the State Security Service while marginalizing alternative perspectives and diverse viewpoints – elements they deem essential for effective governance.