Gomelauri on Chorchana Checkpoint: We were informed post-factum. It was not coordinated.

On June 14, the Prosecutor's Office announced that it is investigating cases of sabotage, attempted sabotage, aiding and abetting hostile activities by foreign or foreign-controlled organizations, and financing activities against Georgia's constitutional order and national security.

"As part of the investigation, among other issues, we are examining the actions taken by former Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia on August 24, 2019, near Chorchana village, along the occupation line," the Prosecutor's Office stated. According to the statement, Vakhtang Gomelauri, head of the State Security Service (SSS) in August 2019, was questioned as a witness regarding this incident.

"It is unacceptable to establish a checkpoint whenever the Minister of Internal Affairs hears of a threat. This could lead to a catastrophe. We have established mobile patrol groups; we didn't place checkpoints, but rather advanced patrol cars and special forces units protecting our citizens.

I believe placing a checkpoint would be a serious mistake in any case, but Giorgi Gakharia should have coordinated this first with the SSS and then with the Prime Minister. Then we should've called in the European Union Monitoring Mission and asked them to regulate the situation, or we would have managed this. That never happened. At least, it wasn’t coordinated with me,” stated Vakhtang  Gomelauri.

Gomelauri also stated that he was against the establishment of a checkpoint. "We were against it, not just me, but the entire service. We remember the Otkhozoria incident, which nearly escalated into a major tragedy. That person died, and this could have led to the mass killing of people."

Photo: Vakhtang Gomelauri, former Minister of Internal Affairs

"Based on our experience, we advised something different, but Gakharia responded that dangers were great and this had to be done.

I could not go against him; I was only the head of SSS. But everybody was informed,” said Gomelauri. 

The Ministry of Internal Affairs established the checkpoint in Chorchana village, Khashuri District, in late August 2019. Days later, Bidzina Ivanishvili endorsed Gakharia as Prime Minister. During Gakharia's premiership, Tea Tsulukiani served as Vice Prime Minister. She now heads the Georgian Dream's so-called parliamentary investigative commission, where Gakharia was summoned on April 14 and questioned about the Chorchana checkpoint.

"The main goal was to seize 1,800 hectares of forest in Chorchana from Georgia based on a fake map. That was the primary objective. The consequence is that the occupation line, both on the map and on the ground, is exactly where it was," said Gakharia.

In response to Gakharia's statement, Tsulukiani claimed that the SSS was surprised by the checkpoint’s placement. "The checkpoints and the [occupation] line have shifted by 1.5 kilometers in response to what you did as a surprise, and the State Security Service learned about it from the Ossetians via the hotline. The SSS then averted the danger of someone opening fire there and not riddling your established checkpoint with bullets."

"We must have a professional SSS if they received information from the Ossetians. Intensive work was underway, involving four ministries. The construction of the road and the checkpoint was coordinated with the former head of the SSS [Vakhtang Gomelauri], the Prime Minister, all necessary institutions, and local authorities. The Ministry of Infrastructure actively participated in the process with its equipment; everyone was fully informed.” Gakharia noted.

Representatives of the Tskhinvali occupation regime continue to insist on the dismantling of the Chorchana checkpoint.