The SSG claims the devices were intended to be used in terrorist attacks on Georgian soil or abroad.
ADVERTISEMENTGeorgia's State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) on Monday said it had seized explosive devices and a “significant quantity” of explosive material allegedly originating from the Ukrainian city of Odesa bound for Russia.
The agency said SSG officials had uncovered two electric car batteries, repurposed as containers during a search of a vehicle, which contained six “special explosive devices” concealed within them.
The bomb squad safely removed the devices and sent them for examination, the SSG said, adding that mock-ups had been placed in the containers so that undercover monitoring activities could continue.
The devices contained C-4 military-grade plastic explosives with a total weight of 14 kilograms. They were capable of being activated by electric detonators and special timers.
The SSG claimed the devices and substances had originated from the Ukrainian city of Odesa before travelling through Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, eventually arriving in Georgia on 19 January.
Agents said seven Georgian citizens, three Ukrainian nationals and two Armenian citizens were involved in the smuggling and transportation of the devices within Georgia.
It also named Andrey Sharashidze, a Ukrainian citizen of Georgian origin and former MP candidate for Odesa from the pro-EU 'Servant of the People' party, as an alleged organiser of the scheme.
The body said its inquiry was looking to determine whether the devices left in Tbilisi were intended for use within Georgia or transportation to Russia.
"The details of the case and the factual situation raise suspicions that the involvement of Georgian citizens and the use of Georgian territory may have been orchestrated to shift blame for potential terrorist acts, whether within Georgia or abroad, onto Georgia itself,” the agency alleged.
The SSG noted it was investigating the case with articles of illegal purchase and storage of explosive substances and devices, which carry a penalty of three to six years of imprisonment.
However, it noted that the charges for preparation of terrorist acts could be added, elevating the penalty to 10 to 15 years in prison.