The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced the arrest of two individuals – one Georgian citizen and one foreign national – in the coastal city of Batumi on terrorism-related allegations linked to the Islamic State group.
Speaking at an April 20 briefing, Lasha Maghradze, first deputy head of the agency, said the investigation was launched under Article 328 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers joining a foreign terrorist organization and supporting its terrorist activities, punishable by ten to 17 years in prison.
According to Maghradze, the arrests followed a “joint special operation” carried out by the agency’s counter-terrorism center and special operations department in the Gardabani municipality, Kvemo Kartli region in eastern Georgia, and the western Adjara region. He noted that the counter-terrorism center had prior intelligence on the suspects, including regarding their entry into Georgia and “the purpose of their arrival.”
“The two individuals entered Georgia separately and were accommodated in a rented apartment,” Maghradze said, adding that “from the day of their arrival, both individuals were under the operational control of the counter-terrorism center, which was carried out based on the judge’s orders.”
“These individuals joined the Islamic State terrorist organization, swore an oath of allegiance (so-called bay’ah), which they recorded in a video and sent to the group’s leaders, thereby declaring unconditional obedience to them,” Maghradze said, adding, “They were prepared to carry out any type of order issued by Islamic State leaders.” He also said the detainees planned to “leave Georgia for another country, where they were to join Islamic State fighters.”
Authorities seized “electronic data storage devices, unregistered SIM cards, mobile phones, items bearing the symbols of the Islamic State terrorist organization, masks, personal documents, and other evidence relevant to the case,” Maghradze said.
Maghradze added that the SSSG remains “a reliable partner” for combating terrorism, and continues “to carry out preventive measures related to international terrorism.”
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