State Security Service - Akhmet Chataev Planned Attacks in Georgia and Turkey

In a briefing held by the State Security Service of Georgia today, it was announced that five people have been detained, allegedly accused of financing and supporting terrorism, during the special operation held in the villages of Duisi and Omalo earlier this morning. As the State Security Service announced, five Georgian citizens, Zurab Gornakashvili, Ruslan Aldamov, Ramaz Margoshvili, Badur Chopanashvili and Temirlan Machalikashvili were arrested in connection with the special operation held on November 21-22 in Tbilisi. Also, according to the State Security Service of Georgia announcement, Akhmet Chataev aimed to attack diplomatic missions in both Georgia and Turkey. 

Following the State Security Service’s announcement, Temirlan Machalikashvili attempted to fight back during the special operation, trying to activate a hand grenade. In order to stop him “due to extreme necessity, proportional force was used and Machalikashvili was shot, after which he was injured in the head area, and is now hospitalized,” State Security Service representative informed. According to the source, the persons now being detained helped Akhmet Chataev and his group members with transportation in Turkey and later assisting them to illegally cross the Georgian border and helping them travel to Tbilisi, renting an apartment and finding weapons. 

State Security Service of Georgia further announced that in cooperation with their American colleagues, after examining materials from the mobile phones of the members of the group detained during the special operation in November, the place where the weapons were hidden was found with backpacks, bullets, maps, parts of automate weapons, binoculars and other evidence.

A person arrested during the special operation on Gabriel Salosi Street has also been identified as Russian citizen Shoaif Borziev, who according to the State Security Service of Georgia, is on the Interpol wanted list. As reported, the persons killed during the special operation were Russian citizen Ibragim Adashev, who had a fake Georgina passport between 2010-2012, and Aslanbeg Soltakhmadov. State Security Service of Georgia also announced that the audio recordings taken from Akhmet Chataev’s computer indicate that Chataev and his group were planning terrorist acts in Turkey and Georgia, aiming at diplomatic missions in these countries. 

The investigation to identify other suspects connected to the group is still ongoing; under the third part of the article 331, on financing terrorism or supporting terrorist activities through other material means or resources, for which 17 to 20 year sentences or a life-long sentence may be decided, the State Security Service of Georgia informed

By Nino Gugunishvili