Ukraine ruling party figure’s mention in alleged terrorist plot targeting Russia via Georgia “alarming”- ruling party MP
The lawmaker said the explosives were allegedly intended for terrorist attacks in Russia “with the blame [intended to be] then shifted to Georgia. Photo: Irakli Beraia’s Twitter
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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.
The Georgian State Security Service on Monday said it had seized several units 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.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday told Imedi TV the country’s authorities would work to prevent the country from being “dragged into the war” between Ukraine and Russia “no matter what”.
The United States Department of State's 2021 Country Report on Terrorism on Tuesday said Georgia had continued its “robust engagement” on counterterrorism issues throughout that year and remained a “strong” security partner for the United States.
Georgian MPs from the Trust Group, a domestic defence and security platform in the Parliament, expressed their appreciation on Wednesday for the "highly effective coordination” demonstrated by the country's State Security Service in “thwarting all terrorism threats".
Aleksandre Tabatadze, the First Deputy Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee in the Georgian Parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday hailed the State Security Service for having countered “serious threats” to the country following the seizure of explosives allegedly targeted for transportation from Ukraine to Russia via Georgia.
Irakli Beraia, the Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of the Georgian Parliament, and General Robert Brieger, the Chair of the European Union Military Committee, on Friday discussed partnership and existing security challenges in the South Caucasus region.