Two of five detainees from Pankisi Gorge released

This morning, two of five Georgian residents detained during a special operation in the Pankisi Gorge on suspicion of involvement in the recruitment to the "Islamic State" (IS) have been released.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 14, local residents reported that the police conducted in the Pankisi Gorge the special operation to search for militants, who came from Syria. As a result, five persons have been detained, and the authorities believe they are recruiters of the "Islamic State". According to the unofficial information, one of the detainees is Tarkhan Batirashvili, a cousin of one of the IS leaders.

According to the preliminary information, Aiyup Borchashvili and Merab Tsatiashvili, who is presumably a cousin of Tarkhan Batirashvili, are still under arrest. The name of one more detainee has not been disclosed yet, the "Sputnik-Georgia" reports.

Ali Kavtarashvili, who has introduced himself as a friend of Aiyup Borchashvili, has emphasized he sees no signs of terrorism in the actions of the detained persons.

Law enforcers have seized a firearm from the house of Aiyup Borchashvili. According to members of his family, the firearm is officially registered.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.