Day: April 20, 2026

As part of the “Year of Urban Planning and Architecture,” various events are being held in the country’s scientific and cultural institutions, where discussions are focused on urban planning traditions, modern approaches, and the preservation of historical heritage.

The State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced the arrest of two individuals – one Georgian citizen and one foreign national – in the coastal city of Batumi on terrorism-related charges linked to the Islamic State group.

Speaking at an April 20 briefing, Lasha Maghradze, first deputy head of the agency, said the investigation was launched under Article 328 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which covers joining a foreign terrorist organization and supporting its terrorist activities, punishable by ten to 17 years in prison.

According to Maghradze, the arrests followed a “joint special operation” carried out by the agency’s counter-terrorism center and special operations department in the Gardabani municipality, Kvemo Kartli region in eastern Georgia, and the western Adjara region. He noted that the counter-terrorism center had prior intelligence on the suspects, including regarding their entry into Georgia and “the purpose of their arrival.”

“The two individuals entered Georgia separately and were accommodated in a rented apartment,” Maghradze said, adding that “from the day of their arrival, both individuals were under the operational control of the counter-terrorism center, which was carried out based on the judge’s orders.”

“These individuals joined the Islamic State terrorist organization, swore an oath of allegiance (so-called bay’ah), which they recorded in a video and sent to the group’s leaders, thereby declaring unconditional obedience to them,” Maghradze said, adding, “They were prepared to carry out any type of order issued by Islamic State leaders.” He also said the detainees planned to “leave Georgia for another country, where they were to join Islamic State fighters.”

Authorities seized “electronic data storage devices, unregistered SIM cards, mobile phones, items bearing the symbols of the Islamic State terrorist organization, masks, personal documents, and other evidence relevant to the case,” Maghradze said.

Maghradze added that the SSSG remains “a reliable partner” for combating terrorism, and continues “to carry out preventive measures related to international terrorism.”

Also Read:

• 19/02/2026 – Georgia Arrests Two Foreigners Over Attempt to Buy Nuclear, Radioactive Materials
• 25/10/2025 – Georgia Arrests Three Chinese Nationals Over Attempt to Buy Uranium Illegally
• 13/10/2025 – SSSG Arrests Three Georgians on Terrorism Charges Linked to Islamic State
• 02/05/2025 – SSSG Arrests Foreign National Affiliated with Islamic State

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— Caliber English (@CaliberEnglish) Apr 20, 2026

Azerbaijan is actively defending its architectural history against the pressures of modern development.

The US Embassy in Baghdad renewed its warning Monday against traveling to Iraq, calling on Americans already in Iraq to “leave now”, AzerNEWS reports.

Azerbaijan significantly reduced its imports of butter and other dairy fats in the first quarter of 2026, even as overall imports of vegetable and animal fats increased slightly, AzerNEWS reports. According to monthly data from the State Customs Committee, as reported by Marja.az, the country imported 5,717 tons of butter and other milk-based fats worth…