Agreement between Belarus KGB and Georgia's SSS into full force
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, August 16
The agreement on cooperation between the State Security Service of Georgia and the State Security Committee of Belarus entered into force on August 1.
Under the agreement signed in August 2016, the parties will exchange information in the field of state security, as well as cooperate in the fight against crimes against the constitutional order, as well as in the fight against the sovereignty and territorial integrity, transnational organized crime, terrorism, cyberterrorism and illegal selling of weapons.
Forms of cooperation include fulfilling requests and transferring personal information, holding joint events, sharing experiences, and many others. The agreement also provides for the joint sending of security representatives or attaches to the territory of another state for a specific or indefinite period of time. Belarus has similar agreements with other countries, including Ukraine.
MEP Viola von Cramon calls the cooperation agreement between the Georgian State Security Service and the KGB of Belarus dangerous.
“Why does Georgia implement an agreement after 5 years in a situation where everyone else in the world gave up the cooperation with Belarus? GEO government must respect human rights ¬ extradite journalists & HR defenders to Lukashenka,” wrote MEP Viola von Cramon on Twitter.
After the document came into force, Belarusian activists and journalists living in Georgia feared that they might be arrested on fabricated charges and extradited to Belarus.
Droa, the Georgian political party also commented on the ongoing events, saying that the decision is alarming.
“The decision of the Georgian government to sign a cooperation agreement with Lukashenko's KGB is alarming. This not only legitimizes Lukashenko's horrific and illegitimate regime, which is responsible for the deaths, torture, and political imprisonment of thousands of people but also threatens the lives of Belarusians seeking refuge in Georgia,” reads the statement of Droa.
Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly calls Georgia's agreement with Belarus Security Service shameful. He responded to this on his Twitter.
“Shameful indeed. The Georgian Govt recently withdrew from an agreement brokered by the EU — if they don’t from this, it will be another sign that their priorities lie elsewhere,” wrote Ian Kelly.
Tbilisi Human Rights House has called on the authorities not to enter into a cooperation agreement with the Belarusian Security Service signed in 2016. According to them, the use of this document will endanger the Belarusian people in exile in Georgia, especially human rights defenders, and activists.
The Agreement on Cooperation between the State Security Service of Georgia and the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus was signed in 2016. The agreement aims to develop close co-operation between the parties in the fight against international and transnational organized crime against terrorism, corruption, and other state security, the ministry said in a statement.
