According to the head of parliament’s committee of defence and security, Irakli Sesiashvili, no link between the failed attempt of bombings on Russian-Armenian pipeline going through Araz river is confirmed:
“I can confirm that no links with “Islamic State” [axar edit: Daesh] are found, also no links with terrorist organisations associated with the Caucasus are found. At the same time, a representative of the Security Service was saying that there are certain links with Ukraine and possibly someone might have additional questions on that. I will abstain from speculations.”
He said, a “serious terrorist act” has been prevented and that “state interests” were saved:
“I welcome and congratulate the State Security Service [axar edit: SSS] with this successfully done case. Despite the fact that we frequently hear discretisation of that institution, I think, everyone understands that, one of the cornerstones of security and peace in the country is the Security Service. Our country has a status of a stable and secure country, that’s why many tourists came to Georgia and many investments are coming. Such a strike, sure, would make a serious harm to our country’s security, its image. We need to wait for the investigation.”
According to the SSS, on August 20, Depatment of counterintelligence have detained five citizens of Georgia, suspected in group preparation of a terrorist act. It is said that the group was going to bomb a gas pipeline connecting Russia and Armenia in Georgia’s Saguramo.