The murder of a young man followed by unrest and turmoil in Akhalkalaki
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, August 10
On August 8th, a 27-year-old man living in the village of Gulikam was killed in a physical confrontation in Akhalkalaki. According to locals, the confrontation between the two families has been going on for more than three years.
Later, in Akhalkalaki, the villagers of a young man who died as a result of a physical confrontation set fire to the hotel Artserg and the house of their four relatives of the suspects in the murder.
Investigations are currently underway at three locations - in the city center where the confrontation took place, near the burned hotel and at the hospital entrance where two wrecked cars are parked. According to the head of Akhalkalaki hospital Alex Toroyan, a young man wounded in the heart was admitted to Evex Hospital practically dead.
The Patrol, Police and Special Tasks Department were mobilized in Akhalkalaki. According to the Governor of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Besik Amiranashvili, the relatives of the deceased burned several houses after the murder in Akhalkalaki. It is a criminal case. The murder took place in Akhalkalaki. Relatives of the deceased then set fire to several houses. The police are in full control of the situation at the moment, Amiranashvili said.
The Samtskhe-Javakheti Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into premeditated murder, unlawful purchase and possession of firearms, and gang violence, accompanied by damage or destruction of property.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as a result of operative-investigative actions, one person was arrested on charges of premeditated murder and unlawful purchase of a firearm. The offense carries a maximum sentence of 7 to 15 years in prison.
According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Vladimer Bortsvadze, the situation in Akhalkalaki is stable, maximum police forces are mobilized on the spot, which take appropriate preventive measures to maintain public order and safety. Also, as he said, according to the information available at this stage, as a result of the confrontation, several people have been injured and investigative actions are underway in this direction.
Irma Nadirashvili, a member of European Georgia, believes the confrontation in Akhalkalaki yesterday is a sign that the government cannot control the criminal situation in the country. According to her, this is the continuation of all of the processes that has been happening in Georgia in the past several months.
