Five arrested on terrorism charges in Georgia’s Pankisi gorge

The counter-terrorism operation took place earlier today in eastern Pankisi gorge of Georgia. Photo: Pankisi community radio.

Agenda.ge, 24 Aug 2021 - 11:27, Tbilisi,Georgia

Five individuals have been arrested in Georgia’s Muslim-populated Pankisi gorge, in the eastern Kakheti region of Georgia, on terrorism charges earlier today, the Georgian State Security Service has confirmed. 

No more details have been released so far. 

A local man Malkhaz Machalikashvili, whose son was killed in an anti-terrorism operation in Pankisi back in 2017, has told RFE/RL that four detainees are between 18-20 years old, while the remaining one is a 50-year-old man. 

As far as I have seen nothing illegal has been confiscated from their homes,” Machalikashvili told the media outlet. 

He stated that 'such arrests usually take place in election period.’