| Georgian:ეროვნული უსაფრთხოების საბჭო | |
 Seal | |
| Advisory body overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | November 6, 1992; 32 years ago (1992-11-06) (as National Security and Defence Council) |
| Advisory body executives |
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| Website | www |
TheNational Security Council (NSC;Georgian:ეროვნული უსაფრთხოების საბჭო,romanized:erovnuli usaprtkhoebis sabch'o) is an advisory body for thegovernment of Georgia dealing with matters ofnational security. The council is led by theprime minister and includes other high ranking government, intelligence and military officials.[1][2]
The National Security Council (NSC) of Georgia was established under PresidentEduard Shevardnadze on 24 January 1996. The respective law defined the council as an advisory body of the President of Georgia for decision-making on strategic questions of the organisation of military construction and defence, international and foreign policy related to the security of the country, maintenance of stability, law and order.[3]
The National Security Council included the minister of state (later theprime minister), theminister of foreign affairs, theminister of defense, the minister of state security (abolished in 2004), theminister of internal affairs, and the secretary of the NSC. The president served as the chairperson of the Council. Thechairperson of Parliament and those of the supreme representative bodies of theAbkhazia andAdjara autonomous republics, though not members, were to participate in the NSC activities.[3] The NSC secretary had a number of duties, including general organizational, coordination, and management duties related to the functioning of the NSC and the NSC Apparatus. The secretary also serves in the role of assistant to the president of Georgia "on questions of national security".[3]
The NSC was abolished by a controversial law passed by the Parliament of Georgia on 31 October 2018, which became effective upon the inauguration of PresidentSalome Zurabishvili on 16 December 2018.[4] The decision was criticized by the then-PresidentGiorgi Margvelashvili, the incumbent NSC secretaryDavid Rakviashvili,[5] and foreign commentators such as Ronald S. Mangum.[6]
In April 2019, the NSC was reestablished under the leadership of Prime Minister. It also includes seven other permanent members: ministers of defense, internal affairs, foreign affairs, and finances, as well as heads of state security and intelligence services, and thechief of defense forces. The reconstituted council had its inaugural meeting on 1 May 2019.[2]
According to the 2018 constitutional amendment, a consultative body—the National Defense Council—is called for only duringmartial law. It is chaired by the president of Georgia and also includes the prime minister, the chairperson of Parliament, the minister of defense, and thechief of defense forces. The president of Georgia can invite individual members of the Parliament and of the government to join the council as members.[7]