Islamic State terrorist organisation member arrested in Tbilisi
Tsiskara Tokhosashvili was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport. Photo: State Security Service press office
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The Georgian State Security Service on Thursday announced the arrest of a member of the Islamic State terrorist organisation at Tbilisi International Airport by its Counter-Terrorism Centre.
Tsiskara Tokhosashvili has been charged with joining a foreign terrorist organisation and aiding in terrorist activities, with the state body calling him an “influential figure” in the jihadist militant group seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate in Iraq and Syria.
Video by the Georgian State Security Service.
The Service said Tokhosashvili had left Georgia in 2015 to join ISIS in the Middle East, and “actively participated” in combat operations in the territory of Syria and Iraq under the name of Emir Isa.
The body said the detainee headed an ISIS unit for some time. Photo: State Security Service press office.
It also added he had led an ISIS unit “for some time” and maintained “close ties with various influential leaders” of the terrorist group. He is now facing 10 to 17 years in prison if found guilty.
His younger brother Tsezar Tokhosashvili, known as Al-bara Shishani, was arrested in a joint special operation in Kyiv, Ukraine in November 2019 and was extradited to Georgia the following year. Wanted through an Interpol red notice on terrorism charges, he also joined ISIS in 2015.
The brothers are from Georgia’s Mulsim-populated Pankisi Gorge in the north-east of the country.
Five citizens of Georgia were arrested in 2021 for membership in terrorist organisations, the State Security Service said in its annual report that was released on Monday.Five citizens of Georgia were arrested in 2021 for membership in terrorist organisations, the State Security Service said in its annual report that was released on Monday.
The Georgian State Security Service (SSS) says that five individuals who were arrested in Georgia’s Muslim-populated Pankisi gorge earlier today were members of terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) and had plans to leave for Syria.
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.
A Georgian citizen wanted by an Interpol red notice on terrorism charges has been extradited from Ukraine to Georgia. The Georgian State Security Service reported earlier today that the Ukrainian security forces detained Tsezar Tokhosashvili, known as Al-bara Shishani, in Kiev on November 12, 2019 on charges of ‘participation in a terrorist organisation’.
The permanent Interagency Commission composed of different public authorities and chaired by the State Security Service on Friday held the sixth meeting, highlighting that Georgia takes one of the “significant places” in counter-terrorist activities, according to international estimates.
The Georgian State Security Service on Saturday announced the detention of Georgian citizen Malkhaz Paksashvili, the leader of one of the groups of the terrorist organisation Islamic State, by its Counterterrorism Centre.
The Georgian State Security Service on Saturday said it, along with competent agencies involved in the national counterterrorism system, had identified the activities of the terrorist organisation Islamic State in various foreign countries and had arrested one foreign citizen in connection with this.
The Georgian State Security Service on Wednesday announced the detention of six Georgian citizens charged with supporting the Islamic State through links with “one of the influential leaders” of the terrorist organisation.
Two Georgian citizens have been arrested for membership in the Islamic State terrorist organisation and Illegal purchase, storage and carrying of firearms and ammunition, the Georgian State Security Service said on Wednesday.
Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday commended the “genuine dedication” of the Georgian Government to its partnership with Washington for combating terrorism.