News - Minivan transporting explosives from Ukraine to Russia caught in Georgia, Armenia residents among accomplices

The Counter Terrorism Center under the State Security Service of Georgia  seized several explosive devices and a large amount of explosive material, the State Security Service of Georgia informed in a briefing, the country’s First Channel television reported. Two accumulators, intended for an electric car, were seized as part of the investigation. These accumulators were used as containers for transporting explosive materials and devices. It was found that these explosive devices contain С-4 plastic explosive material. The total weight of this explosive was 14 kilograms. There were also 6 detonators and 6 special keys in the containers. The same number of clocks were installed in all six boxes, in which the activation time was already indicated. The investigation revealed that all six devices were prepared by a high-level specialist and were calculated for a wide radius of attack. It was found as well that these explosive devices and materials were brought to Georgia on January 19 from Odessa, Ukraine. Before arriving in Georgia, they passed through Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey in a minivan belonging to a Ukrainian citizen. The vehicle had entered Georgia through the Sarpi checkpoint on the Turkish border, and these explosive were planned to be taken to Voronezh, Russia through the Darial border checkpoint. But later, at the request of the client, the decision was changed, and the accomplices tried to remove one of the containers, in which the three explosive devices were placed, from the noted checkpoint. The second container, with three explosive devices, remained in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi. The Counter Terrorism Center officers, however, caught this vehicle and seized the explosive materials at the moment when it was about to cross the Georgian-Russian state border from the Georgian side. It was found that seven people from Georgia, three people from Ukraine, and two people from Armenia were accomplices in all this. According to the case materials, this process was organized by Ukrainian citizen, 2020 Ukrainian parliament member candidate Andrey Sharashidze, who was born in Batumi, Georgia. Measures are being taken to catch these accomplices, as well as to find out the route, final destination, objects of the attack, and signs of this crime. The Counter Terrorism Center of Georgia is conducting a criminal investigation on charges of illegal acquisition and possession of explosive materials and devices. This crime is punishable in the country by 3 to 6 years of imprisonment.