Famous tennis player Basilashvili given GEL100 thousand bail for violence against ex-wife
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, May 25
Nikoloz Basilashvili, accused of domestic violence, was sentenced to GEL100 thousand bail. He is accused of violence against his ex-wife in the presence of a minor. The prosecution initially demanded that he be remanded in custody.
After the trial, the tennis player's lawyer said that Basilashvili did not plead guilty or name the bail amount. The prosecutor in the case told reporters that the tennis player was given 30 days to pay bail.
“The court partially accepted the request of the prosecution and ordered Nikoloz Basilashvili to be detained, but the court did not agree with the fact that there was a high risk that a new crime would be committed, evidence would be destroyed or Nikoloz Basilashvili would hide,” prosecutor Natia Guruli said.
As for the juvenile, the prosecutor says that in the best interests of the child, they are not talking about the content of the evidence. Also, the prosecutor confirmed that a restraining order was registered against the tennis player’s father.
“The victim does not indicate physical violence by the father at this stage, therefore charges have been filed against Nikoloz Basilashvili only,” the prosecutor explained.
Investigation is under Article 126 of the Criminal Code, sub-paragraph ‘b’ of the second part, which stipulates domestic violence in the presence of a minor. Shall be punishable by community service for a term of two to four hundred hours or by imprisonment for a term of one to three years, with or without restriction of arms rights.
Neka Dorokashvili, the ex-wife of the tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili, told Rustavi 2 that the athlete had physically injured her, and the former father-in-law chased her with a long-handled item. According to her, the incident happened when she went to Basilashvili's house to pick up his son. As she says, the motive for the violence is not yet known. As the female victim says, they did not have a property dispute because they have ended the negotiations a long time ago.
“When I went there to bring my child, I don’t know what happened to him (the father), I don’t know if he was drunk or what, he just chased me and my child, with some item. He says that it was a guitar, I can’t confirm that, because it had a very big handle and I thought that it was an axe… I don’t even remember, I held my baby and tried to run away,” said Dorokashvili.
Nikoloz Basilashvili is a well-known Georgian tennis player.
