Georgia foils plot by Ukrainian citizens to smuggle explosives into Russia

Explosive devices seized by authorities (Photo: Security Service Of Georgia).

The six devices were "transferred from the Ukrainian city of Odessa into Georgia on January 19, via Romania, Bulgaria and Türkiye, in a small van owned by a Ukrainian citizen," Georgia's security service said.

The devices contained 14kg of C-4, a plastic explosive.

Georgia's security service said authorities discovered three explosive devices at the joint Georgian-Russian border checkpoint, then found three more in the capital Tbilisi.

According to a statement from the security agency, Andrei Sharashidze, a Ukrainian citizen of Georgian origin, coordinated the plan to transport explosives.

The statement also said that seven Georgians, three Ukrainians and two Armenians were also involved in transporting the explosive device but "none of them knew about the presence of explosives" in the truck.

Tbilisi has been accused of increasing cooperation with the Kremlin, even though Russian forces have been deployed to parts of Georgia since 2008, when Moscow invaded the Caucasus nation.

Georgia's increased ties with Moscow have strained relations between Tbilisi and Kiev, which were further strained after Georgia jailed former pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili, a Ukrainian national.

In September 2023, the Georgian government said that the deputy head of Ukraine's military counterintelligence and former Georgian Deputy Interior Minister, Giorgi Lortkipanidze, was plotting a coup in Georgia.

In July 2023, Kiev expelled Georgia’s ambassador, a year after recalling its own from Tbilisi. That same month, Ukraine imposed sanctions on Georgia’s flagship airline, Georgian Airways, for resuming flights to Russia.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/gruzia-pha-am-muu-cong-dan-ukraine-tuon-thuoc-no-vao-nga-20240205214452880.htm