Justice Minister Okhanashvili nominated to lead Georgia’s State Security Service

The Georgian government on Wednesday put forward Anri Okhanashvili, the Minister of Justice, as the nominee for the position of Head of the State Security Service of Georgia, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced at a briefing held at the Government Administration.

Kobakhidze said, following consultations with the Chairman of the Georgian Parliament and the parliamentary majority, Okhanashvili’s candidacy will be put to a vote in Parliament on Friday.

“Before assuming the role of Minister of Justice, Okhanashvili was a member of the Georgian Parliament and chaired the Legal Affairs Committee for many years. He holds a Doctor of Law degree, having defended his dissertation at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany. Following discussions with the parliamentary leadership and majority, his nomination will be formally considered by Parliament at the end of this week,” Kobakhidze said.

The nomination comes as the current Head of the State Security Service, Grigol Liluashvili, stepped down from his position. Kobakhidze confirmed Liluashvili’s departure during the same briefing but did not elaborate on the reasons for his resignation.