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Five Georgian citizens were arrested over membership of terrorist group Islamic State in an operation conducted in Pankisi gorge, Kakheti region, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) reported on August 24, Civil.ge reported. 

According to the report, the suspects became members of the terrorist organization Islamic State and planned to travel to a “terrorist camp” in Syria. They had taken the oath of allegiance (bay’ah) to the current leader of the Islamic State and spread video footage featuring the oath among persons with “links to terrorists.”

The Security Service noted that the group members “openly expressed their support for the terrorist organization and systematically demonstrated terrorist symbols while moving in the streets.” The report also said the investigation identified a leader of the group, who “openly stated” he was a representative of the Islamic State and “emir of Georgia,” and who helped the suspects join the ranks of the terrorist group.