![Malkhaz Paksashvili at the time of his arrest. Screengrab via Facebook.](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foc-media.org%2Fcontent%2Fimages%2Fwordpress%2F2023%2F04%2FMalkhaz-22.4.2023.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Georgia arrests ‘Islamic State commander’ in Tbilisi
The State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) has said they arrested Malkhaz Paksashvili, a Georgian national alleged to be an Islamic State (IS) commander. Paksashvili denies his involvement with the terrorist organisation. In a briefing following his arrest, the SSG claimed that Paksashvili left Georgia in 2013 to fight in Syria with the IS. The SSG’s counter-terrorism centre carried out Paksashvili’s arrest and published a video purportedly of the operation. ‘In 2013–2015 Paksashvili join