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Givi TargamadzeHead of the Georgian Parliament Committee on Defense and Security.
Date of Birth: 23.07.1968
Country:  Georgia |
Content:
- Givi Targamadze: A Leading Voice in Georgian Politics
- Career in Journalism
- Political Journey
- Russia's Influence in the Caucasus
- International Incident and Refusal of Russian Visa
- Alleged Assassination Plot
- Role in the Kodori Gorge Operation
- Personal Life
Givi Targamadze: A Leading Voice in Georgian Politics
Early Life and EducationGivi Targamadze was born on July 23, 1968, in Tbilisi, Georgia. He graduated with a degree in journalism from Tbilisi State University.
Career in Journalism
Targamadze began his career as a paramedic and surgical assistant before transitioning to journalism. He worked for several prominent Georgian newspapers, including The Georgian Times, Argumenty, and Dilis Gazeti.
Political Journey
Member of Parliament and Defense Committee ChairmanIn 2004, Targamadze was elected to the Georgian Parliament as a member of President Mikheil Saakashvili's National Movement-Democrats bloc. Soon after, he became the Chairman of the Parliament's Defense and Security Committee.
Russia's Influence in the Caucasus
Targamadze has been a vocal critic of Russia's policies in the Caucasus region. He has advocated for the removal of Russian peacekeepers from the conflict zones in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and accused Russia of providing sanctuary to Georgian criminals.
International Incident and Refusal of Russian Visa
In 2005, the Russian Embassy in Georgia denied Targamadze a visa to attend a Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS meeting in St. Petersburg. The entire Georgian delegation subsequently boycotted the event. The Russian Embassy later issued a visa to Targamadze after reconsidering his request.
Alleged Assassination Plot
In 2006, Russian journalist Mikhail Leontyev aired recordings of alleged phone conversations between Targamadze and unknown individuals, claiming that he planned to assassinate Belarusian opposition leader Alexander Milinkevich. Targamadze dismissed the accusations as "unserious."
Role in the Kodori Gorge Operation
During the Georgian military operation in the Kodori Gorge in 2006, Targamadze stated that the region had been controlled by armed criminal elements and that the restoration of government control was a priority.
