Prepared by Messenger Staff
Three Arrested in Adjara on Terrorism Charges Linked to Islamic State
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) has detained three Georgian citizens in the western region of Adjara on terrorism-related charges connected to the Islamic State group. Deputy Head of the agency Lasha Maghradze announced the arrests during a briefing on October 13.
The investigation is being conducted under Articles 236 and 328 of Georgia's Criminal Code, which deal with the illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and explosives, as well as participation in or assistance to a foreign terrorist organization. The offenses carry sentences of up to 17 years in prison.
"Members of the so-called Takbirist Jamaat, formed around a terrorist ideology, had ties with influential leaders of the terrorist organization Islamic State abroad," Maghradze said. "Acting on their instructions and for future terrorist objectives, they established a group based on a radical extremist ideology under the guise of a Jamaat," he added. According to the agency, the suspects displayed "particular aggression" toward followers of other religions.
Maghradze stated that the group intended to "illegally bring influential members of the terrorist organization Islamic State into Georgia and, under their leadership, establish a foothold in the country." He explained that this would have allowed them to "illegally receive and accommodate their associates, provide logistical support, and use Georgia's territory as a transit route for terrorist purposes."
During the operation, security officers seized "items depicting terrorist symbols, explosives, large quantities of ammunition and firearms, military equipment, mobile phones and other electronic data storage devices, significant amounts of cash in various currencies, and other evidence important to the investigation," Maghradze said.
Lawyer Expects Strasbourg Court to Find Violation in Case of Activist Saba Jikia
Saba Jikia, an activist convicted of attacking a police officer during a protest in November 2024, is appealing his case at the Tbilisi Court of Appeals. His lawyer, Guja Avsajanishvili, said he expects the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to find a violation of Jikia's rights.
According to Avsajanishvili, the prosecution has requested a harsher sentence from the appellate court. "I saw something interesting: in the courtroom, there were two men whom people present identified as SSS employees. When the judge looked at these individuals and asked if they had any objections, they had none," the lawyer said.
He emphasized that the hearing was public and that observers could witness the alleged procedural issues. "They can come and see what violations are occurring in this case, and that the prosecution has not even examined a single piece of evidence. I don't know who these people present at the process are monitoring, but in the end, even these individuals will see how weak the prosecution's positions are," Avsajanishvili noted.
During the session, the prosecution demanded a tougher sentence, while the defense sought a full acquittal. "I expect that the Strasbourg Court will definitely establish a violation in Saba Jikia's case," Avsajanishvili stated.
Jikia was arrested on December 5, 2024, accused of attacking a police officer during a protest rally on November 30.
