Blast Injures Commander of Russian Forces in Georgia

The commander of Russian troops deployed in Georgia Alexander Studenikin was injured in a bomb blast in capital Tbilisi late on April 6.

Alexander Studenikin was hospitalized; however officials say injuries are not life-threatening. Police officials said the blast occurred as the commander of the Russian troops in Georgia was walking to his home from the Russian troops’ headquarters in the capital Tbilisi.

“We can say for sure, that it was a terrorist act. TNT explosive set off by remote has been detonated,” Secretary of Georgian National Security Council Vano Merabishvili told reporters.

“What I can say at the moment is that the explosion is most likely to be a provocation. As you know Georgia’s Security, Interior Ministers, as well General Prosecutor are in Moscow at the moment,” Gigi Ugulava, Deputy Security Minister said.

Vano Merabishvili also said that the explosion was “a provocation.” “Relations between Russia and Georgia have significantly improved recently; it seems that our enemies do not like it,” Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council added.

Russian Foreign Ministry has already demanded from Georgia “to investigate and to find the people behind a terrorist act.”

Statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry reads “the terrorist act aimed at undermining Russo-Georgian relations.”