Hudson Institute President John Walters expresses serious concern about the investigation launched by the Georgian State Security Service following the publication of a Hudson report co-authored by Luke Coffey and Giorgi Kandelaki on Iran’s growing influence in Georgia.

“This is a publication produced by the Hudson Institute in accordance with the institute’s research standards. The report is based on verified information that is publicly available, as noted throughout the report’s endnote citations, and the Hudson Institute stands firmly behind its findings,” Walters said.

“This report should serve as a wake-up call, especially at a time when Iran serves as a destabilizing force in the region.”

"Rather than launching an investigation against the authors of the report, the authorities should be concerned about the findings, which overwhelmingly rely on publicly accessible information that the authorities should already be aware of. The report outlines a clear and systematic picture of the expanding influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Georgia. This developments run counter to the interests of both Georgia and the United States and warrants serious attention," notes the president of the Hudson Institute.