“On August 1, 2015, with the formation of the independent State Security Service, Georgia carried out an important institutional reform. A service adapted to modern security challenges was created, which took its own clearly defined place in the country’s national security system,” stated the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, in his speech at the event dedicated to the day of the founding of the State Security Service.

As the Chairman of the Parliament noted, a large part of the SSS’s activities is invisible to the eyes of society; however, “precisely this daily, professional, and often unnoticed work creates that solid foundation of security on which the country’s peace, the protection of citizens, and the stable functioning of state institutions rest.”

“Today the security environment is much more complex and multidimensional than ever before. States simultaneously have to deal with terrorism, espionage, cyberattacks, disinformation, economic pressure, and other hybrid threats whose goal is the weakening of state institutions, the disruption of social unity, and the hindrance of the country’s sovereign development.

For Georgia these challenges acquire particular intensity due to the occupation of our country’s territories, the unstable security environment existing in the region, and the constant risk of various forms of external pressure.

In such a situation, the security of the state does not mean only responding to already identified threats. Particular importance is attached to the prior identification of threats, prevention, and the thwarting of their development before they inflict real harm on the security of the country and society.

Under these conditions the role of the State Security Service acquires particular importance. A large part of its activities is invisible to the eyes of society; however, precisely this daily, professional, and often unnoticed work creates that solid foundation of security on which the country’s peace, the protection of citizens, and the stable functioning of state institutions rest.

The employees of the Security Service stand every day on that invisible front where success is often measured precisely by the fact that the threat does not reach society, a crisis does not develop, and the citizen does not notice the work of the security system at all in their everyday life.

Georgia’s history clearly shows us that a strong state is not defined only by military capabilities. Its main strength lies in sustainable state institutions, loyalty to national interests, and the ability to timely recognize, assess, and thwart the threats facing the country.

The protection of our sovereignty, independence, and constitutional order is the common responsibility of all state institutions, and in this matter the State Security Service has a special mission.

The Parliament of Georgia attaches particular importance to the development of professional, strong state institutions based on the principles of the rule of law. Precisely on such institutions rests the sustainability of the state, while the security and trust of citizens are the result of their effective, responsible, and law-based activities.

I would like to express particular gratitude to every employee of the State Security Service who, with high professionalism, loyalty, and a sense of responsibility, serves Georgia, its state interests, and the security of our citizens every day.

Once again I congratulate you on the 11th anniversary of the creation of the State Security Service.

I wish you success, strength, and dignified service before Georgia,” Shalva Papuashvili stated.

The employees of the State Security Service were also congratulated on the 11th anniversary of the service by President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and the head of the State Security Service Geka Geladze, who, in connection with the anniversary of the State Security Service, awarded the employees of the service with state awards of various degrees.