State Security Service releases video, audio materials on terrorist suspects

The Georgian State Security Service has released video and audio materials on the five individuals who were arrested on terrorism charges on August 24 in the country’s eastern Pankisi gorge, amid the reports that the arrest could have been connected with an election PR campaign. 

In the video and audio materials the detainees take an oath before the head of the terrorist organisation Islamic State, while in the audio recording they are trying to find ways to leave for Syria. 

The family of the detainees claimed that the men had nothing to do with terrorists, while the candidate of the united opposition in the Duisi constituency of Pankisi gorge Malkhaz Machalikashvili has stated that ‘such arrests are usual in the election period.’ 

Four detainees are between 18-20 years old, while the remaining one is about a 50-year-old man. 

Tbilisi City Court will decide today whether or not to send them to pretrial detention.