Georgia reports finding 14 kg of explosives allegedly transported from Ukraine to Voronezh

Georgia Online, citing a statement by the Georgian special service, reported the information.

According to them, the explosive devices contain military-grade C-4 explosives that can be activated with an electric detonator and a special timer. Its total weight reaches 14 kg. The containers also contained 6 units of detonators and 6 special keys. 

They add that the detonation of such a device in crowded places can lead to a large number of victims.

The explosives were reportedly brought from Odesa through Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey to Georgia on January 19, 2023 in a minivan belonging to a citizen of Ukraine. The explosive devices were allegedly planned to be transported to Russia, namely to the city of Voronezh.

According to the Georgian special service, the decision was later changed by the customer: one container with three explosive devices was to be taken to Voronezh, and the second container with three explosives was left in Tbilisi.

According to the Georgian special service, 7 Georgians, 3 Ukrainians and 2 Armenians were involved in the importation of explosives. The organizer of this scheme was allegedly a citizen of Ukraine, a candidate for local deputies of the Odesa region in 2020 from the Servant of the People party, Andriy Sharashidze, born in Batumi.

According to the statement, Sharashidze actively monitored the movement of the explosive devices, but the above-mentioned people probably did not know about the explosives and detonator capsules that were installed in the car's batteries.

"As for the three explosive devices left in the city of Tbilisi, whether they were intended to be transported to Russia or were to remain in Georgia for use in hostilities, this will be determined by the investigation. However, the details of the case and the real situation give reason to suspect that the use of Georgian territory and the wide involvement of Georgian citizens in this process were intended to accuse Georgia of organizing terrorist attacks on its territory or abroad, both in terms of planning and execution," the Georgian special service added.

The country's counterterrorism center is currently investigating the case under an article related to the illegal acquisition and storage of explosives and devices. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 3 to 6 years. 

• The official website of Georgia's President, Salome Zurabishvili, recently fell victim to a hacker attack. Upon accessing the page, visitors were confronted with an image of a skull accompanied by the message "Glory to Russia."