Deputy Minister says trailer loaded with TNT or other things did not cross the border
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, October 13, 2022
The Deputy Minister of Finance Giorgi Kakauridze responded to the information spread by the Russian media that the vehicle which exploded on the Crimean bridge, passed through the territory of Georgia. The Deputy Minister denied that such a trailer passed Georgian territory.
"Neither a trailer loaded with TNT nor other explosives crossed the customs border - if this is speculation, the relevant services must answer, I tell you that there was no such case" he said.
According to Kakauridze, he is not obliged to answer the accusations of the occupier, behind which there are no arguments.
"All our international partners know very well how the customs services work in the control part, including both the EU and the USA. We have constant cooperation with them, especially the customs service. As for the accusations, in some cases from politicians, in some cases from the special services, certain accusations are heard, behind which there is no justification. Someone can always accuse someone of something, and if there's no argument behind it, it's just a word thrown around with nothing behind it. Neither the trailer nor the wagon loaded with TNT or other explosives crossed the customs border. I have no obligation to justify myself to anyone. If someone argues that he crossed the border of Georgia, in that case the investigation will be started and the responsible persons will be held.
Do I have to defend myself against the accusation of the occupying country?! Do you think so? If this is speculation, it should be answered by the relevant services. I am telling you that there was no such case, if the rest is speculation, who is doing it, how it is done, the relevant services will comment and I do not have the competence to speak for them, I do not have the authority to do so either. It is not my responsibility and it is not my competence to comment on the part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is not right for me and I will not do it", said Kakauridze.
According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Alexander Darakhvelidze, transit and non-transit cargoes pass customs control in Georgia and no suspicious facts have been observed.
The Russian Federal Security Service announced that 12 accomplices in the Crimean bridge bombing have been identified, 2 of them are Georgian citizens. The agency also stated that "the Intelligence Division of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, its head Kirill Budanov, employees and agents are behind the terrorist attack."
