Prosecutor’s Office to Question Terrorism Suspect for His Scandalous Statement
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Wednesday, February 7
(TBILISI)--Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office says they will question terrorism suspect Ruslan Aldamov who stated from prison that Georgia’s State Security Office staff mistakenly killed another suspect Temirlan Machalikashvili.
Aldamov claims that the special unit serviceman was tasked to kill him, but they made a mistake and shot 19-year-old Machalikashvili instead.
"Aldamov will be questioned in relation to the statement, according to which, riot police mistook Temirlan Machalikashvili for Aldamov. We addressed the Chief Prosecutor with the request of questioning Aldamov and our motion has been satisfied. The interrogation will probably take place this week," said Mariam Kublashvili, lawyer of the Machalikashvili family.
The Prosecutor’s Office may again question the Machalikashvili family and the people from the Pankisi gorge, where the counter-terrorism operation took place on December 26, 2017.
During the raid law enforcers detained four: Zurab Gornakashvili, Ruslan Almadov, Ramaz Margoshvili and Badur Chopanashvili and wounded one-Temirlan Machalikashvili for alleged support of terrorists, namely Islamic State affiliate Ahmed Chatayev and his group.
The State Security Office claims the five supported Chatayev to arrive to Georgia from Turkey with his allies and find accommodation and weapons in the capital Tbilisi.
The Office reported that Chatayev planned attacks on Georgian and Turkish diplomats; however, the state security found him in the outskirts of Tbilisi.
During the November 22 operation in Tbilisi, which preceded the Pankisi raid, Chatayev blew himself up and his two allies were killed.
The Machalikashvili family says that Temirlan Machalikashvili was a victim in the situation and had no links with terrorists.
The family demands the victim status for the deceased youngster and tough punishment of the State Security officials, who planned the Pankisi raid.
The family pledged they will address the European Court of Human Rights to reveal the truth.
