The Georgian State Security Service claims to have thwarted a potential terrorist attack by intercepting 14 kilogrammes of C-4 explosives transported from Odessa, Ukraine, through Georgia to Voronezh, Russia. 

C-4, a military-grade plastic explosive designed to cause "large casualties", was concealed in two electric car batteries and divided into six devices, each equipped with electronic timers, according to official information.

The route of the explosives from Odessa to Voronezh involved passing through Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and entering Georgia through the Sarpi checkpoint. 

The plan was to use a minivan, driven by an Ukrainian citizen, to transport the explosives to Russia through the Upper Lars checkpoint.

"The details of the mentioned case and the factual circumstances give reason to suspect that the use of the territory of Georgia and the significant involvement of Georgian citizens in this process served to create the opinion that terrorist acts, whether carried out in Georgia or outside of it, would be attributed to both the planning and implementation in Georgia," said Bacha Mgeladze, the director of the counter-terrorist centre.

The Georgian counter-terrorist centre took control of the package's movement to determine the route, final destination, and the identities of the perpetrators. 

The State Security Service identified seven Georgian nationals, three Ukrainians, and two Armenians as suspects. However, it is claimed that apart from the organiser, participants were allegedly unaware of the devices concealed in the car batteries.

The investigation asserts that the plan was coordinated by Andrei Sharashidze, a Ukrainian national of Georgian descent, who contested the Odessa regional council election in 2020 as a candidate for the ruling Servant of the People party.

The ongoing investigation may lead to the specification of charges and could continue under the "preparation of a terrorist act" clause, according to the State Security Service.

The Georgian government has consistently accused Kiev of attempting to draw Georgia into its conflict with Russia.

Georgia's government says it opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but has been accused of being pro-Russian since the outbreak of the full-scale war in February 2022