5 arrested on terrirism charges in Pankisi

Five individuals were arrested in Georgia’s Muslim-populated Pankisi gorge yesterday, in a special operation by the country’s State Security Service. 

The men have been detained on terrorim charges, the agency has confirmed. 

Pankisi gorge in eastern Georgia, which is mainly inhabited by ethnic Kists and Chechens, is on the stoplight from time to time for terrorism-related issues. 

One of such cases back in 2017, when a 19-year-old local Temirlan Machalikashvili was killed in the anti-terrorism operatioin, caused a large turmoil and protests. 

The family still claims that the boy was shot mistakenly.