Kobakhidze Announces Changes in Law Enforcement, Security Leadership

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced major leadership changes, with State Security Service Chief Mamuka Mdinaradze set to assume a new, yet-to-be-created position, “State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Bodies,” Interior Minister Geka Geladze to succeed him as SSSG chief, and Adjara Government Chair Sulkhan Tamazashvili to succeed Geladze as interior minister.

Kobakhidze announced the changes at an April 21 briefing in the government administration, where he stood alongside the three men, who are set to take up new roles once the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament approves them. Kobakhidze called on the disputed legislature to approve the appointments during next week’s plenary session.

Mamuka Mdinaradze, who has headed the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) since September 2025, will become a “State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Bodies,” a new position to be created in the Georgian government. Kobakhidze said the draft law establishing the position will be submitted to the parliament, asking the disputed legislature to fast-track it next week.

Since his appointment as SSSG chief, “Mamuka Mdinaradze had to step away from political activity,” Kobakhidze said, adding, “From the new position, he will return to political activity, which will strengthen our political team.” He also named Mdinaradze as a vice prime minister.

Kobakhidze thanked him for a “very successful” tenure as SSSG chief, saying he had “very important achievements,” including “systemic reforms” in the agency and “particularly successful” work against corruption.

Geka Geladze, who has led the Ministry of Internal Affairs since May 2025, will succeed Mdinaradze as the new SSSG chief. Kobakhidze also thanked him for the ministry’s “particular achievements” under his tenure, emphasizing the “fight against organized crime, drug-related crimes and many more,” as well as “systemic reforms.”

Sulkhan Tamazashvili, who has been chair of the Government of the Adjara Autonomous Republic since April 2025, will succeed Geladze as the new interior minister. Kobakhidze also thanked him for a “very successful” work in the Adjara government. Before assuming the current position, Tamazashvili was sanctioned by the United Kingdom in December 2024, during the first weeks of the ongoing anti-government protests, for “serious human rights violations,” when he was director of Tbilisi police.

Kobakhidze said the new candidate to chair the Adjara government will be named “in the coming days.”

Kobakhidze also named GD Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili as another vice prime minister.