The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) detained two Georgian citizens on allegations of joining a foreign terrorist organization and providing assistance to terrorist activity, the agency announced on September 25. They face up to 17 years in prison.
The SSSG said that, as a result of “special operations” in the Gardabani Municipality of the Kvemo Kartli region and Kareli Municipality of the Shida Kartli region, it detained two individuals who allegedly “had joined the terrorist organization ‘Islamic State,’ had sworn an oath of allegiance (the so-called bayat) before the organization’s leader, and had expressed unconditional obedience to him.”
During searches of the detainees and their homes, the agency said it seized “a handwritten text of the oath of allegiance (‘bayat’) to the leader of the terrorist organization ‘Islamic State,’” as well as a seal bearing an “Islamic inscription,” various types of cartridges, a hand grenade, a detonator capsule, and electronic data storage devices.
The investigation is being conducted under Article 328 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers joining a foreign terrorist organization and providing assistance in terrorist activities. The crime carries a sentence of 10 to 17 years’ imprisonment, according to the SSSG.
The agency also released footage showing the detention of both men. The video shows several armed and masked officers apprehending the first man, taking him to the ground, handcuffing him, and then bringing him back to his feet before reading him the charges and placing him in a vehicle. The video then shows the detention of the second man in a similar manner.
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