The former deputy head of the Security Service, Soso Gogashvili, was not present in Pankisi during the special operation. Such statement made today the Minister of Internal Affairs Vakhtang Gomelauri.

“Also, for some reason, he [Soso Gogashvili] focused on the special forces. The Special Forces were subordinated to me personally and no one could give them orders. There was no order to liquidate anyone.

In this case, [Temirlan] Machalikashvili was liquidated, it is very sad, I offer my condolences to the family once again. It was very hard first of all for the family and for all of us. No such order was issued. The Special Forces squad was headed by me, but it had its own commander, of course.

Everything is absurd. I’m waiting. He says he will release everything, some records, let him release, we are waiting for him, there will be no problem.

I met Mrs. Mediko with a lawyer, of course at work. We talked, she had a lot of questions. First of all, I offered my condolences, no matter what happens to a person, a child is the most precious thing, and this news was very hard for the mother. I explained to her as much as I could what happened there, about that topic, we talked and parted ways. No agent was sent”, - said Vakhtang Gomelauri.