The Interior Ministry said on Monday that as part of ongoing investigation into an explosion that hit a car, carrying lawmaker from opposition UNM party Givi Targamadze and his driver, the police arrested a man on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.
Another man, who the police said on October 7 was linked to the same explosion, was charged in absentia with attempted murder; he remains at large, according to the Interior Ministry.
MP Targamadze and his driver survived in car explosion late on October 4 in the center of Tbilisi, close to Freedom Square; four by-passers were injured.
The Interior Ministry identified the two men, allegedly linked to the case, only by their initials and date of birth; the man charged with illegal possession of explosives and firearms was identified as B.Ch. born in 1976, and the man charged with attempted murder was identified as D.Kh. born in 1974.
The Interior Ministry said that as part of the investigation, police searched homes, as well as a car garage, in “various locations” of Tbilisi of the person the police believe is linked to the explosion and of those persons associated to him.
It said that as a result of these searches, police found TNT and RDX explosives, Kalashnikov AK-47 and AKSU rifles, six hand grenades, 16 grenades for under-barrel grenade launchers, a manual for preparing explosive devices, material required for remote-control explosive devices, as well as MP Targamadze’s home and office plan drawings.
“Intensive investigative measures are underway to identify and detain other persons linked to the person who is accused of [attempted murder],” the Interior Ministry said.
This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)