The State Security Service of Georgia has arrested two individuals on charges of joining a foreign terrorist organization and aiding terrorist activities

The State Security Service of Georgia has arrested two individuals - one a foreign citizen and the other a Georgian citizen - on charges of joining a foreign terrorist organization and aiding terrorist activities, Deputy Head of the State Security Service of Georgia Lasha Maghradze said at a briefing at the agency.

“As part of a special operation jointly conducted by the Counter-Terrorism Center and the Special Operations Department of the State Security Service of Georgia in the Gardabani municipality and the Adjara region, one foreign citizen and one Georgian citizen have been detained in the city of Batumi.

The Counter-Terrorism Center was aware of the above-mentioned individuals, and we also had information in advance about their entry into Georgia and the purpose of their entry. They arrived in Georgia separately and settled in a rented apartment. From the day of their entry, both of them were under the operational control of the Counter-Terrorism Center, which was carried out on the basis of a judge’s ruling.

The investigation has established that the above-mentioned individuals joined the ranks of the terrorist organization “Islamic State”, took an oath of allegiance (the so-called bayat), which they recorded in the form of a video file and sent to the leaders of the organization, thereby declaring their unconditional obedience to them. They were ready to carry out any task assigned by the leaders of the Islamic State. The investigation also establishes that the detainees were traveling from Georgia to another country, where they were supposed to join the fighters of the Islamic State.

As a result of the investigative actions, electronic information-carrying devices, unregistered SIM cards, mobile phones, items depicting the symbols of the terrorist organization “Islamic State”, masks, personal documents and other evidence of importance to the case were seized.

The investigation into the above-mentioned fact is underway under Article 328 of the Criminal Code, which refers to joining a foreign terrorist organization and assisting in terrorist activities. The crime is punishable by 10 to 17 years of imprisonment.

The State Security Service is a reliable partner in the international system of combating terrorism. "We actively continue to implement preventive measures related to international terrorism," said Maghradze.