Former first deputy head of the State Security Service Soso Gogashvili made the first comment regarding Malkhaz Machalikashvili, father of Temirlan Machalikashvili, a 19-year-old youth killed during the special operation in Pankisi Gorge, in his exclusive interview with InterPressNews.

Gogashvili said that it was not difficult to believe the information spread by the State Security Service, because he knows that “such actions are not unusual for Malkhaz Machalikashvili.” Gogashvili thanked the Security Service for saving his “family from destruction.”

“I would like to thank the State Security Service to prevent the crime during the preparation process.  My family was in fact saved from destruction as Machalikashvili was plotting to do it. This person was preparing this crime step by step. It was not hard for me to believe as I was informed that he was able to do it. Such actions are not unusual for Malkhaz Machalikashvili. He has ties with the groups such as Chataev’s group,” Gogashvili said.

The State Security Service of Georgia said Malkhaz Machalikashvili plotted a terrorist act targeted against Soso Gogashvili.