Ukraine ruling party figure’s mention in alleged terrorist plot targeting Russia via Georgia “alarming”- ruling party MP

Irakli Beraia, the Chair of the Defence and Security Committee in the Georgian Parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday responded to an alleged terrorist plot prevented by the country’s State Security Service, which said it had uncovered transportation of explosives from Ukraine to Russia via Georgia, by claiming a mention of a Ukrainian ruling party representative in the scheme was “alarming”. 

The SSS on Monday named Andrey Sharashidze, a Ukrainian citizen of Georgian origin and former candidate for the Deputy of the Kyiv district of Odesa from the Servant of the People party, as an alleged organiser of the scheme, after seizure of special explosive devices and a “significant quantity” of explosive material allegedly originating from the Ukrainian city of Odesa and intended for transportation to Russia.  

The lawmaker told Imedi TV the explosives were allegedly intended for terrorist attacks in Russia “with the blame [intended to be] then shifted to Georgia”, giving Moscow the basis for a new military aggression against Tbilisi. 

First it was [the currently imprisoned former President Mikheil] Saakashvili who was sent in from Ukraine, for reasons you are likely aware of, and this time explosive devices are involved. It suggests a well-coordinated effort involving skilled professionals”, the MP alleged in reference to the 2021 clandestine return of the now Ukrainian national to Georgia. 

Citing witness testimonies and recovered audio files, the SSS claimed the devices and substances had originated from Odesa before traversing Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey before arriving in Georgia on January 19. 

Initially intended for transportation to Russia, the agency claimed the plans were later altered, resulting in one container being intercepted at the Georgian-Russian border, while the other was left in Tbilisi.

The Service said seven Georgian citizens, three Ukrainian nationals and two Armenian citizens were involved in the smuggling and transportation of the devices within Georgia.