Georgia’s Security Service uncovers weapons cache linked to 2017 Chataev terror cell

The State Security Service of Georgia (GSSS) has discovered a hidden cache of weapons and explosives believed to be linked to the 2017 terror group led by Akhmed Chataev, the agency said on Wednesday.

The find was made following operational intelligence received as part of the ongoing investigation into the Chataev group, the GSSS said. The information indicated that some of the group’s armaments had been concealed after their neutralisation several years ago.

Security officers from the Counterterrorism Centre located the cache in a forested area near the village of Lechuri in the Telavi municipality of eastern Georgia. The stash contained firearms, five magazines, 161 rounds of ammunition, three hand grenades, various explosive materials-including TNT-and first aid medical supplies.

The GSSS said that the investigation was continuing under several articles of Georgia’s Criminal Code, including those related to terrorism, illegal possession of firearms, and other offences (Articles 323, 331¹, 344, 328, and 236).

Chataev, a notorious militant linked to the Islamic State group, was killed in 2017 during an anti-terror operation in Tbilisi.