The spouse of a US Embassy employee in Georgia reportedly suffered severe poisoning from Russia’s alleged new sonic weapon.
The woman, preferring to remain anonymous, recounted collapsing in agony at her home in Tbilisi, Georgia, on October 7, 2021. She had moved to the Eastern European country with her American diplomat husband in February 2020.
According to Georgian media, she was “severely poisoned” but managed to flee into the street, where she spotted a man near her driveway standing in front of a car. She later identified him upon being shown a picture as a Russian intelligence agent.
The woman is believed to be among the US embassy staff and their families affected by the so-called Havana syndrome, which manifests symptoms such as migraines, nausea, memory lapses, hearing loss, poor balance, and dizziness. Research conducted by The Insider, a Latvia-based investigative media group focused on Russia, in collaboration with CBS’s 60 Minutes and Germany’s Der Spiegel, suggested a possible link between the Havana syndrome and energy weapons used by members of a Russian military intelligence sabotage unit.
While a US intelligence investigation released findings last year deeming it “very unlikely” that a foreign adversary was responsible for the ailment, The Insider reported that members of a Russian military intelligence unit known as 29155 were present during reported health incidents involving US personnel. They allegedly utilized sonic weapons targeting victims’ brains with radio frequencies, causing symptoms akin to the Havana syndrome.
The woman later claimed to recognize the man outside her house upon being shown a picture of Albert Averyanov, purportedly part of Unit 29155, alongside his father Andrei, reportedly the group’s commander. Though their whereabouts on the day of the alleged poisoning remain unknown, information published in Der Spiegel suggests they could have been in Tbilisi at the time. Phone records between Andrei Averyanov and a military engineer from an FSB counterintelligence unit indicate communication before and after the alleged attacks, including the one on the attaché’s wife in Tbilisi.
A year-long investigation also revealed that senior members of Unit 29155 were awarded and promoted for their work related to the development of “non-lethal acoustic weapons.” Despite these allegations, Russia has consistently denied any involvement, dismissing the accusations as baseless. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated this stance, stating that there has been no convincing evidence presented to support the claims.
Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Greg Edgreen, who led the Pentagon investigation into the Havana syndrome incidents, expressed confidence that Russia is behind the attacks. He asserted that the attacks are part of a global effort by Russia to “neutralize” US officials.
