The State Security Service of Georgia confirmed today earlier reports that a Georgian citizen suspected of ties to terrorism was detained by Turkish authorities on December 26 within the ongoing counter-terrorism investigation.

According to the Security Service, Gocha Saginadze (otherwise known as Ali Saginadze) was apprehended in north-eastern province of Trabzon “based on the information provided by the State Security Service within the investigation over Ahmed Chatayev’s case.”

“The Turkish law enforcement officers have seized materials belonging to the suspect that were related to a terrorist organization - the Islamic State,” the Security Service said, adding that the information provided to Turkish authorities was retrieved from Ahmed Chatayev’s cell phone.

“The Georgian State Security Service closely cooperates with its Turkish colleagues, and respective institutions of other partner countries,” the State Security Service also noted.

The Georgian security forces conducted a large-scale anti-terrorist operation in Isani District of Tbilisi on November 21-22, to detain several armed suspects, who allegedly plotted terrorist attacks against diplomatic missions in Georgia and Turkey.

One gunman was captured and three were killed as a result of the fighting, including a senior ISIS member Ahmed Chatayev, who was listed as a terrorist by the United States and the United Nations. 

On December 26, the security forces detained five citizens of Georgia in a double operation in Tbilisi and Pankisi gorge of Akhmeta District on charges of assisting the group of militants.