Surviving suspect of Tbilisi anti-terror operation charged

Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has charged the only surviving suspect of a large-scale anti-terror operation in Tbilisi for terrorist activities.

The suspect only identified as S.D. is facing charges for joining a terrorist organization and supporting it, as well as for the illegal purchase and keeping of firearms, ammunition and explosives for terrorist intentions.

The prosecutor’s office reported the suspect, with his three accomplices, kept illegally purchased ammunition, explosives and arms in a flat of Isani district, Tbilisi.

The office stated the person was detained based on operative information on November 21, and at the time he was carrying a firearm and cartridges.

The other three suspects refused to surrender and they opened fire on Georgian law enforcers, killing one special unit serviceman and injuring five others,” the Prosecutor’s Office stated.

The detainee now faces 10-17 years in prison.

The lawyer of the detainee says the person is a Russian citizen and he has no links with any terrorist group.

Lawyer Imeda Karkashadze claims the suspect was detained quite far from the operation scene.

The case prosecutor Irakli Marshania says that the bodies of the three killed suspects have not been identified and experts are still working to provide details.

"It is still unknown who are those killed. Relevant investigative activities are in progress,” Marshania said.