GEORGIA: STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE POLICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 TBILISI 001589 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/CARC E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/17/2019 TAGS: PGOV SNAR KBTS KCRM GG SUBJECT: GEORGIA: STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE POLICE (PART 1) REF: TBILISI 0207 TBILISI 00001589 001.3 OF 004 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN F. TEFFT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. The reform of Georgia's police forces has been one of Georgia's most significant successes since the Rose Revolution, resulting in a decrease in corruption and improved public image for the police. However, because of the many agencies and branches with overlapping jurisdictions, it is often difficult to tell which divisions are involved in any particular event. This first half of a two-part message describes the organization of Georgia's uniformed police and how different agencies and branches work together. The bulk of the police branches operate under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MOIA),which can be split into broad groups of 'core' units and 'specialty' units. Core units form a hierarchical system of information gathering and response - Neighborhood Police personally get to know the residents of an area and can quickly gather information on suspects; Patrol Police respond to active crime scenes and conduct preliminary investigations; City Police take over bigger, non-routine issues in urban areas; and Criminal Police are brought in for more severe violent crimes. The Border Police were reformed to focus on green borders, while the Patrol Police guard official points of entry. Specialty units include the Special Operative Department (which includes a counter-narcotics unit, anti-TIP unit, surveillance, organized crime unit, etc.),and a host of branches with specific goals such as counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering, and diplomatic security. Meanwhile, the Special State Protection Service (SSPS),the President's version of the Sec ret Service, is an independent agency that guards the President, members of Parliament, and foreign dignitaries. The second cable in the series will address challenges facing Georgia's security structures. END SUMMARY. BACKGROUND ¶2. (C) After the Rose Revolution, the Georgian Government implemented a sweeping set of reforms that fundamentally transformed the country's law enforcement bodies and the Ministry of Internal Affairs. First, the Ministry of State Security merged with MOIA, eliminating Soviet-style parallel power centers. Police officers were provided with new cars, police stations in the capital and the regions were repaired, and bases were built near the conflict zones in Zugdidi and Gori to train special forces. Emergency and Civil Security forces modernized according to European standards, and salaries of the Ministry's employees significantly increased. MOIA installed hundreds of cameras to control traffic movement and record criminal activity in Tbilisi and Batumi. The MOIA police academy curriculum was completely reformed and the physical plant upgraded with robust support from the State-INL program, as well as modest support from the OSCE and other international donors. MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS ¶3. (SBU) Officially, every department in MOIA has a head who reports separately to the Minister. There is also an unofficial hierarchy of police units that is designed to incrementally respond to increasingly grave crimes. This section list units in this unofficial order, and explains the coordination between core police sections and the specialty units designed to support them. NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE ¶4. (C) Head: Zurab Tvauri Originating from Soviet times when police were required to QOriginating from Soviet times when police were required to keep track of people's movements and actions, the Neighborhood Police is an ear-to-the-ground force that complements other divisions and is found in all major cities. In each neighborhood, these police officers are charged with personally getting to know the local population, how the community is organized, and general neighborhood business. When a crime occurs, other police forces first come to the Neighborhood Police for suggestions on possible suspects or people to interview. Because of their personal relationship with the population, the Neighborhood Police are frequently able to obtain facts or data that other police units cannot quickly collect. Their auxiliary function is to deal with small-scale conflicts in the neighborhood, such as petty hooliganism or noise complaints, as well as more serious instances of domestic violence. In many cases, residents will first call the Neighborhood Police, who investigate and then decide whether or not other departments should become TBILISI 00001589 002.3 OF 004 involved. PATROL POLICE ¶5. (C) Head: Giorgi (Goga) Grigalashvili The Patrol Police are the standard, most visible police unit with numerous regional offices. They are charged with stopping violence, responding to crimes in real time, traffic control, protection of public order, and border security and control at official ports of entry. These officers conduct preliminary investigations and have a liaison relationship with other branches. They are also responsible for processing and evaluating video footage from traffic control cameras, as well as respond to the emergency hotline (similar to 911). The Patrol Police conduct vehicle and foot patrols, with foot crews handling the metro area, public spaces and crossroads. (Comment: One source who works closely with the Patrol Police says that Saakashvili, known for his love of publicity, has encouraged the Patrol Police to invite camera crews and seek publicity for Georgia's law enforcement, occasionally at the expense of undercover sting operations. End Comment.) CITY POLICE ¶6. (C) Head: Devi Tchelidze Present in large cities such as Batumi and Tbilisi, the City Police gather evidence and identify suspects in criminal cases. This branch works closely with the Patrol Police and Neighborhood Police. When a crime is reported, the patrol police respond first, dealing with the matter if it involves traffic and other routine issues. For more serious cases, the Patrol Police will generally transfer responsibility to the City Police, who will then begin more extensive investigations and work with the Neighborhood Police. CRIMINAL POLICE ¶7. (C) Head: Vano Tsiklauri The next step up from the City Police are the Criminal Police, who respond to major cases such as shootings and murders. City and criminal police functions overlap. For example, while a violent murder would clearly be assigned to the Criminal Police, a bank robbery may be dealt with by either the City or Criminal police, depending on the circumstances and level of violence. BORDER POLICE ¶8. (C) Head: Zaza Gogava Previously charged with handling all ports of entry into the country, the Border Police were significantly reduced in size and function as of January 1, 2009, when the Border Police Command and Control Center was restructured into two units directly under the MOIA: the Operational Management and Border Technology Center in the Operational Technical Department, and the Operational Support Office in the Information Analytical Department (reftel). Some analysts suggest that there was a political reason behind the reduction - the Border Police had been widely considered to have a greater degree of independence from the government, and the opposition held influential positions there (for example, their former chief is the husband of opposition leader Nino Burjanadze). However, the Border Police also have an established reputation for corruption, as opposed to the Patrol Police, who have cultivated a new culture of integrity in police operations. The current function of the Border Police is to guard "green borders," or land crossings without official points of entry. In 1998, the Coast Guard became a sub-unit of the Border Police. The January reforms dissolved the Georgian Navy and integrated it into the Coast Guard. However, while the Coast Guard protects open waters, the United Transportation Administration under the Ministry Qthe United Transportation Administration under the Ministry of Infrastructure is responsible for protecting Georgia's naval ports, alon with the Patrol Police and Ministry of Finance customs agents. SPECIAL OPERATIVE DEPARTMENT (SOD) ¶9. (C) Head: Irakli Kodua Following the breakup of the Soviet Union, the GoG merged several security agencies, including the state security forces and some police units, into the SOD. A source working TBILISI 00001589 003.3 OF 004 closely with the police describes this as "like merging water and oil." Today, SOD has several regional offices and handles narco-trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering and counterfeiting, weapons and cargo smuggling, organized crime and the mafia. Additionally, SOD has sub-units which handle surveillance, counter-intelligence and technical device operations. SPECIAL OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC) ¶10. (C) Head: Lt. Colonel Mamuka Toidze Not to be confused with the Special Operative Department, SOC fills a relatively specialized niche and is significantly smaller than SOD (approximately 300). It has a special forces team that assists the City and Criminal Police with bomb squads and hostage rescue teams, as well as provides a CT capability and biowarfare response to a CT action. This section is under the control of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Shalva Janashvili. CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (CPD) ¶11. (C) Head: Soso Topuridze (Acting) This branch is charged with investigating and handling threats to the Constitution and the political system, although it is somewhat ambiguous as to what that entails. Ostensibly, CPD investigates cases of sabotage against the GoG and corruption in high-ranking officials. Most CPD officers are not uniformed, and their office is located next to SOD. (Note: Reportedly Topuridze is only nominally in charge of CPD, and the former head, Dato Akhalaia, who was forced to step down following criminal allegations, remains in control of the unit. End Note.) COUNTER-TERRORISM CENTER ¶12. (C) Head: Dato Tabutsadze The Counter-Terrorism Center handles counter-terrorism operations and monitors groups suspected of having terrorist affiliations. It also closely coordinates with CPD and SOD. EMERGENCY SITUATION DEPARTMENT ¶13. (C) Head: Irakli Kadagidze This department handles "force majeure" cases such as natural disasters, rescue squads, and contingency plans for events such as nuclear material emergencies. This section is also under the control of Deputy Minister Janashvili. SECURITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ¶14. (C) Head: Kakha Legashvili This branch handles diplomatic security, and guards banks, ministries and official government buildings, with the exception of the Parliament building and the President's office (see below). It also protects railways, marine and air objects, cargo transportation, power and energy plants. These police can be hired on a contractual basis to provide security for private organizations. While laws prevent private individuals or companies from carrying weapons, the protection police are an official police force and are not bound by this restriction, ensuring their popularity with bigger firms and private banks. SPECIAL TASK FORCE ¶15. (C) Overseen by Deputy Minister Janashvili A paramilitary force, this unit protects the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and responds to bomb threats in Tbilisi. Additionally it can serve as a riot police and perimeter defense force. STRATEGIC PIPELINE PROTECTION DIVISION (SSPD) ¶16. (C) Overseen by Deputy Minister Janashvili This unit handles strategic energy assets; they also protect BTC, as well as the South Caucasus Gas Pipeline and Supsa oil terminal. NON-MOIA POLICE FORCES: SPECIAL STATE PROTECTION SERVICE (SSPS) TBILISI 00001589 004.3 OF 004 ¶17. (C) Head: Otar Kvelidze This is the Government's "Sec ret Service" and is not part of MOIA. In the past, SSPS handled protection of VIPs and buildings, diplomatic security, and guarding pipelines. Four years ago, the service was downsized and these functions were mostly given to the Security Police. Now, SSPS focuses on guarding the Presidential residence and the Parliament building. Additionally, SSPS officers serve as bodyguards for the U.S. Ambassador and are escorts for high-level visitors. SSPS has its own sub-unit, the Operative Technical Service, which has a canine unit, a bomb squad, and similar specialty forces. TEFFT