The Legal Issues Committee deliberated on the legal package on the Intelligence Services, introduced by the First Deputy Chair of the Defense and Security Committee, Tengiz Sharmanashvili.

The amendments re-regulate the issues pertaining to the activity and the mandate, the composition, organization and structure of the Intelligence Agency, as well as the inadmissibility of the intervention in the official operation of the officer of the Agency, the legal protection guarantees and the financing of the Agency.

As per the reporter, the Intelligence Service shall be transformed into a unit subordinate to the State Security Service - the National Intelligence Agency, the Director and his Deputy of which shall be appointed and dismissed by the Chief of the Security Service.

“The National Intelligence Agency shall be accountable to the Chief of the Security Service. The oversight of the Agency shall also be assigned to the Chief of the Security Service”, - the reporter elucidated.

According to him, the information on the activity of the Agency shall be fully reflected in the annual report of the Chief of the Security Service; the report shall, on an annual basis, be submitted to the Parliament, however, no later than April 15.

Furthermore, the Chief of the Security Service, no later than April 15, shall report to the Trust Group of the Parliament concerning the secret activity and special programs for the preceding year, including those in the national intelligence domain.

The consumption and utilization of the state budget allocations and other material values by the Agency, as well as the expenses, shall be audited by the State Audit Office.

The Chief of the Security Service, with reference to the Director of the Agency, shall endorse the Agency's Articles, staff list, number of employees, and activity regulations.

“Despite of being a sub-unit, the Agency maintains vast autonomy. It shall apply different regulations upon recruiting the personnel”, - T. Sharmranashvili noted.

Pursuant to the amendments, the officers of the Agency shall enjoy high social and legal guarantees similar to the officers of the Intelligence Service.

“We acknowledge the challenges that Georgia faces. Given the extensive autonomy, the successful security operations in Georgia necessitate the integration of resources,” - one of the drafters of the legal amendments emphasised.

The legal package is initiated by the “Georgian Dream” MPs: Alexander Tabatadze, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, Gia Benashvili, Archil Gorduladze, Rati Ionatamishvili, Ioseb Jorbenadze, Greta Tsitsava, Zviad Shalamberidze and Victor Japaridze.