On March 31, the culmination of a year-long investigation conducted by 60 Minutes, The Insider, and Der Spiegel brought to light disturbing incidents in which US diplomats were allegedly targeted by Russian operatives employing acoustic weapons in Tbilisi, Georgia. Of particular focus was a case involving Albert Averyanov, purportedly a member of Russian intelligence unit 29155, implicated in these attacks.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, the wife of a Justice Department official at the US Embassy in Tbilisi recounted her harrowing experience on October 7, 2021. While performing routine laundry duties at home, she recalled being subjected to a jarring noise penetrating her left ear, akin to a sharp piercing sensation. Subsequently, she suffered from debilitating symptoms, including severe headaches, vomiting, brain fog, loss of coordination, and vestibular damage, necessitating multiple surgeries and the installation of metal plates in her skull.

The victim herself identified Albert Averyanov as a suspect in the attack. Reviewing security footage post-incident, she observed an unfamiliar vehicle parked outside her residence, with an unidentified individual nearby. Collaborating investigative efforts by 60 Minutes and Christo Grozev of The Insider uncovered compelling evidence linking Averyanov to the assaults. Notably, an accounting document attributed to Russian intelligence unit 29155 detailed bonuses awarded for research into non-lethal acoustic weaponry, with Averyanov's name appearing alongside known unit members in travel logs and phone records. Intriguingly, during the assault, Averyanov's phone was deactivated in Tbilisi, while subsequent activity on his email account suggests his presence in the city during the incident.