The Parliament of Georgia has reviewed and approved in the first reading the draft law on Amendments to the Law of Georgia on the Intelligence Service of Georgia along with a package of related legislative amendments.

According to the rapporteur, Tengiz Sharmanashvili, First Deputy Chair of the Defence and Security Committee, the proposed changes foresee the transformation of the Intelligence Service into a subordinate institution of the State Security Service, under the new name — the National Intelligence Agency.

Under the draft legislation, the Head of the National Intelligence Agency and their deputies will be appointed and dismissed by the Head of the State Security Service. The agency will be accountable to the Head of the State Security Service, who will also oversee its activities.

T. Sharmanashvili emphasised that the agency's operations will remain subject to parliamentary oversight.

Presenting the reform package, consisting of 27 accompanying draft laws, the rapporteur detailed both substantive and technical aspects of the amendments.

The Parliament supported the legislative initiative in the first reading with 87 votes in favour.