The transportation of explosives from Georgia to the Russian Federation for terrorist attacks was organized by a Ukrainian citizen

The organizer of the transportation of explosives from Georgia to Russia to carry out terrorist attacks is Ukrainian citizen Andrei Sharashidze, the Georgian State Security Service announced on February 5.

Sharashidze was born in Batumi, but later moved to Odessa and received Ukrainian citizenship. In 2020, Sharashidze was nominated for deputy of the Kyiv district of the Rada of the Odessa region. Sharashidze actively monitored the movement of explosives.

“The process was organized by a citizen of Ukraine, candidate for deputy of the Kyiv district of the local Rada of the Odessa region in 2020 from the Servant of the People party Andrey Sharashidze,” – the Georgian State Security Service was informed at a briefing.

They clarified that seven citizens of Georgia, three citizens of Ukraine and two citizens of Armenia took part in the transportation of explosives to carry out terrorist attacks.

On February 5, the State Security Service of Georgia announced the suppression of an attempt to smuggle explosives from Ukraine to Russia to commit terrorist attacks.

14 kilograms of explosives were imported into Georgia from Odessa on January 19 through the Sarpi checkpoint on the border with Turkey. The cargo had previously traveled through Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

The explosives were brought to Georgia in a minivan belonging to a Ukrainian citizen. The explosives were disguised in two dummy electric car batteries. The seized devices contained military-grade C-4 plastic explosive, activated by an electric detonator and a timer.

The Georgian Security Service did not rule out that those who tried to send explosives to Russia planned to carry out explosions in Georgia. Thus, three of the six seized explosive devices were delivered to Tbilisi. Three more explosive devices were seized from the car of a Ukrainian citizen who was driving towards the Georgian-Russian border.

Georgian investigators are continuing their investigation. Persons involved in the manufacture and transportation of explosives are being identified. The route of the criminals is being established.