President Saakashvili said on March 31 that the police averted “a terrorist attack on civilian facilities” in Georgia’s second largest city of Kutaisi, which was “well-planned, well-organized and well-financed” by “the external forces.”

In televised remarks at a session of National Security Council, Saakashvili called “to further intensify security measures” amid attempts from “external forces” to shatter Georgia’s stability and peace.

The NSC session was convened after the Interior Ministry announced on March 31 that the police foiled terrorist attacks in Kutaisi, targeting two local governmental building and a local office of the opposition Labor Party. 

“We should know that this recent case was neither first and nor last,” Saakashvili said.
 
Some of the suspects arrested in recent months and charged with carrying out of or attempting to carry out terrorist acts are from Gali district of breakaway Abkhazia, which the police says, were recruited by Abkhaz-based Russian military intelligence operatives.

“The scheme under which they are operating is in fact already clear. Previously it was carried out from within the Tskhinvali region and now they have re-arranged the scheme to operate from within the occupied territory of Abkhazia,” Saakashvili said.
 
He said that in terms of counterterrorism measures Georgia was now more prepared than in previous years. “We should continue working in this direction in order to maximally ensure [security],” Saakashvili said.