France has recalled two intelligence officers from Georgia. This was reported by the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), citing Intelligence Online, a French publication specializing in intelligence and diplomatic affairs.
According to the publication, the agents were recalled in May, and the reason for this was the detention of a “former associate” of the leader of the Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili. As the Georgian service of RFE/RL writes, this description refers to the former press secretary of Cartu Bank and former high-ranking financial police officer Giorgi Udzilauri, who was detained on May 5 on espionage charges.
According to the French publication, the operation conducted by the State Security Service of Georgia led to tensions in relations between the two countries.
“The French foreign intelligence service was forced to recall two intelligence officers from Tbilisi to Paris,” the publication writes.
Furthermore, as RFE/RL reports with reference to the French publication, the Georgian authorities, in order to avoid a further escalation of diplomatic relations, declined to declare the French intelligence officers personae non gratae, limiting themselves to demanding that they leave the country. At the same time, Tbilisi reportedly threatened to make their identities public if this demand was not met.