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30-01-2020

Counterterrorism Center of the State Security Service of Georgia and the State Security Service of Ukraine Suppressed Contract Murder by Explosion of Two Persons Planned in Tbilisi

The officers of Counterterrorism Center of the State Security Service of Georgia and the State Security Service of Ukraine, within the scope of international cooperation in the law-enforcement, as a result of the work carried out during several months, as a result of joint operative-searching and investigative activities, suppressed a crime of particularly serious category, which envisages preparation of contract murder under aggravating circumstances by a group, against two or more persons, manufacturing, purchase, keeping and sale of firearms and explosive equipment. As a result of simultaneously conducted activities 6 citizens of Georgia have been detained in Tbilisi and Batumi on the basis of court ruling. The officers of the Counterterrorism Center detained 2 citizens of Georgia: G.B and B.Ts. in Tbilisi on the fact of preparation of a murder in aggravating circumstances, while in Batumi 4 citizens of Georgia: R.B., N.B., G.T., and I.M. have been detained on the fact of illegal purchase-keeping, manufacturing and sale of explosive equipment. 

In parallel with detentions taking place in Georgia, the officers of the State Security Service of Ukraine detained a citizen of Ukraine B.M. in Kharkov linked with the same crime.

Investigation established that a murder of 2 citizens of Georgia residing in Tbilisi G.Ph. and D.Ph. had been planned in Ukraine which had to be carried out by means of firearms and remotely controlled special explosive device. A criminal group had chosen sites of elimination and a plan of exploding of the mentioned persons in the vehicle had been elaborated in detail.

According to the investigation, in order to eliminate G.Ph. and D.Ph., an individual from Ukraine contacted a citizen of Georgia, who had been sent to Tbilisi in order to study the situation. During his stay in Tbilisi, the mentioned individual held several meetings with the members of the criminal group, citizen of Georgia G.B. and B. Ts. B.B. provided the citizen of Ukraine with the information on the locations of the apartments of G.Ph. and D.Ph, as well as those of their family members, minor children and close contacts, also on public places, which the mentioned persons visited and tasked to study the mentioned information. With the purpose to carry out a crime, G.B. handed out to the citizen of Ukraine firearms – pistols, automatic weapons with cartridges and additional cartridge clips, as well as part of money in the amount of USD 4000, which was necessary for planning, preparing of the assault as well as for other expanses. Given that it had been considered to explode G.Ph. and D.Ph. in the vehicle as one of the form of the attack, G.B. had provided the citizen of Ukraine with detailed information on their vehicles. Investigation established that B. Ts. gave the citizen of Ukraine a remotely controlled special explosive device and 1 kg. explosive material TNT which was necessary to explode the vehicle  .

According to the investigation, throughout the process of preparing of the crime, G.B. and B.Ts. had been acting independently from one another in compliance with the norms of conspiracy. They avoided straight communication with the citizen of Ukraine, who stayed in Tbilisi, agreed on the meetings beforehand with the contractor in Ukraine by means of mobile internet application, while afterwards, the contractor via mediator informed the citizen of Ukraine who stayed in Tbilisi on the time and location of the meeting. Before going to a meeting, G.B, and B.Ts. moved about in disguise, used so-called hoody, hat, medical facemask. B.Ts. upon arrival to the meeting covered his face by scarf and mask as he entered the apartment. While moving about the city, they tried to avoid being caught on CCTV cameras, so that it would not be possible to identify them later.

On the other hand, four citizens of Georgia: R.B., N.B., G.T., and I.M., possibly according to the task received from so-called criminal lord in Ukraine, organized manufacturing of the improvised explosive device. Investigation established that R.B. received a task from Ukraine to manufacture two remotely controlled special explosive devices. The latter, together with I.M., addressed  N.B. to prepare the explosive device, who, on the other hand made G.T. manufacture the device. After that, R.B. brought the explosive device to Tbilisi and handed it over to B.Ts, who brought the device to the citizen of Ukraine.

In order to suppress the mentioned crime and detain the perpetrators, in a joint coordination of the officers of the Counterterrorism Center of the State Security Service of Georgia and relevant unit of the State Security Service of Ukraine, within the scope of operative-searching and investigative activities, various evidences have been collected, including audio and video material of preparation of the murder.  Firearms, explosive materials and remotely controlled special explosive devices have been seized in the scope of the case.

Investigation is in progress on the fact of preparation of contract murder under aggravating circumstances by a group, against two or more persons, illegal manufacturing, purchase, keeping and sale of firearms, ammunition, explosive substances or equipment. (Article 18-109 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages imprisonment for a term of 16 to 20 years or life imprisonment and Article 236, paragraph III, V, VI, which envisage imprisonment for a term of 6 to 9 years).

Investigation is carried out by Counterterrorism Center of the State Security Service of Georgia.