Components of Dirty Bombs in Georgia

["Gerry Blackwood" <gpblackwood@justice.com>]

Components of Dirty Bombs in Georgia



Cesium Containers Found in Tbilisi on May 31, 2003

Within the ongoing police raids in Tbilisi, police

officers stopped a white taxi today, in which they

found two boxes with containers of radioactive

substances - cesium and strontium. The taxi was driving

to Qobuleti. 



The police have not detained suspects in the case so

far. Neither have they identified the sources of

import. However, the investigation doubts the

substances were imported by Russian sources. The police

say strontium and cesium are too expensive at black

markets. 



Nino Chkhobadze, Environment Minister of Georgia called

the incident 'extremely serious' and determined that

the substances had to be imported from abroad, as they

were not produced in Georgia. 



"We do not exclude these substances to be used for

production of the so called "dirty bombs". Adequate

offices have to find out from where and how these

substances were imported to Georgia, still I greatly

hope that such bombs are not produced in Georgia and

this time our country was used as a transit country

only" - the Minister commented. 



Until 1992 types of chemical as well as atomic weapons

were kept in Georgia, mainly artillery projectiles,

special mines bombs. In 1989 this danger store

(sources) were exported from Georgia, but some parts of

“imitation bombs of atomic explosion" remain in

Georgia. Also some parts of such kind of materials were

kept in Sukhumi (Abkhazia-uncontrolled region of

Georgia by Georgian government) in Geophysics Institute

of Georgia, but later this materials was also exported

from Georgia. 



Also containers of Cesium 137 are keeping in Vaziani

military base of Georgia and Georgian Defense Ministry

is responsible for monitoring and controlling this

materials. But there are accuring problem of

irresponsible treatment to the problem by the Russian

militaries. They must inform joint commission about

this radioactive sources, when they leaving Vaziani,

but they do not did it and in august 2001 military

chemists spontaneously (accidentally) discovered 6

sources of radioactive isotopes of Cesium, which were

kept (stuffed) in 4 secure containers in former

chemical store-place. After that defense ministry took

control over it. 



In 27 December 2002 employees of department of chemical

security protection of center of logistic management of

defense ministry, discovered that from 4 container in

which these radioactive sources were kept, 3 containers

were not on the place and have been stolen.



 Lately these containers were found. Local residents of

the nearest territory have been stolen this containers,

exactly do not knowing what they do. Robbery of

military bases is usual facts: ordinary people steals

irons, metals, steels and so on for material purposes

from the bases.



The Qvemo Kartli Military Prosecutor's Office

investigated the crime;  Qvemo Kartli Military

Prosecutor's Office military prosecutor Mamuka Tsaava

said that, in 2002 ministry of defense sent 3 official

letter to the ministry of environment and natural

resources about carrying out containers with

radioactive Cesium isotopes from military base and

about burying them, but official response from the

Ministry militaries have not received yet. So problem

of coordination and mutual understanding between the

different bodies or organizations is another issue

hampering fully to resolve such kind of problems.



Ministry of Defense worked out project about burying

such kind of resources. OSCE took active participation

in this, but some problems still exists. If foreign

organizations will take more active participation in

resolving these problems, results will be achieved.

Also another problem is poor (insufficient) finances. 

But I agree with minister when he said that such bombs

are not produced in Georgia and this time our country

was used as a transit country only. Of course relevant

structures continuing operations connected with

supervision and regulation to the abovementioned

problems.





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