“It is unacceptable for the heads of the State Security Service to be changed like socks. This means that the importance of this state institution is not understood at all. The worst part is that these very important officials often end up in prison,” said analyst Lela Jejelava in the TV program “Day’s Newsroom” on PalitraNews, commenting on government changes.

She also assessed that in this country, the position of vice prime minister has become equivalent to political retirement.

“The fact that a state minister is a minister without portfolio is not new, and we don’t need to discuss much the political weight of a minister without portfolio compared to the head of the security service. As far as I remember, after the dismissal of Grigol Liluashvili, there were plans to create a new ministry. Something similar happened during his appointment as well - we were told he would lead this ministry. But then we saw that neither the new ministry was created nor Liluashvili’s fate was what was expected. If a decision has been made in the case of Mdinaradze to create the post of state minister, Parliament will probably not oppose it, but this raises a completely different problem.

We clearly see the attitude toward the State Security Service. Security service chiefs cannot be changed like socks - this shows that the importance and function of this institution are not understood. I see this as the biggest problem. Either the importance of this agency and other law enforcement bodies is poorly understood, or it is being done deliberately.

I have often thought about how it happened that a prime minister is in prison, another is in exile for treason, the head of the security service, his deputy, the defense minister - many of them ended up in prison. I’m not even mentioning that the former president is also in prison. And then we saw what, for me, were shocking images from the meeting with President Aliyev - the prime minister of this country, who threatens people like me with prison if we do not address him as prime minister, looked like a beaten child’s shadow following Ivanishvili.

This is a gradual effort to erode trust in state institutions and fully devalue state thinking. This is the goal - part of a political psychological informational sabotage, like earlier narratives about Georgian men, marriage, and war. The aim is to create trust in undefined positions, where anyone with money can replace the state. That is the most dangerous aspect.

It seems to me that the position of vice prime minister has become equivalent to political retirement in this country.

Mdinaradze is there only temporarily. I am not even sure this ministry will be created and staffed. The head of the SSS already has influence over other agencies. The worst part is that these key officials end up in prison in the end.

I do not know what Mdinaradze’s future will be, but I think Ivanishvili’s move is bringing him closer to Kobakhidze, because Kobakhidze’s turn will also come on the agenda. Even discussing this may delay that process for Ivanishvili. The reason I say this is that Mdinaradze, who is Kobakhidze’s man, has been removed from managing this important agency. And secondly, when the world saw the footage from the meeting with Aliyev, do you think any leader will now want to speak with Kobakhidze? What has Ivanishvili done to the Georgian state with these images?

In my opinion, it is completely illogical to think that this reshuffling from one agency to another is aimed at changing anything in the state. It is connected only to one person’s vision of extending his power, while at the same time increasing his role and weakening state institutions,” Jejelava said.

For reference, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the government structure will be expanded with a new position - State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Agencies - to be held by Mamuka Mdinaradze, who will also serve as Deputy Prime Minister. In addition, Gela Geladze has been nominated as Head of the State Security Service, while Adjara government head Sulkhan Tamazashvili has been appointed Minister of Internal Affairs.