The Georgian Dream Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, visited Tornike Rizhvadze, the former chairman of the Adjara government, at the First University Clinic in Tbilisi before his transfer to Turkey for treatment. Rizhvadze is believed by investigators to have attempted suicide. Kobakhidze commented to the media, indirectly blaming television media for the incident.
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When asked who was accusing Rizhvadze of corruption and protecting drug dealers, the Georgian Dream Prime Minister stated he didn't know. However, he immediately added that "specific television channels were doing this."
"The life of a person involved in politics is stressful, even when they no longer hold office. You know how much stress this all causes. Numerous lies are spread. There is a lot of insult and defamation. I can name specific television channels that were doing this – for example, TV Pirveli and Formula.
The overall environment for a politician is stressful. [...] A politician's life is stressful because they are very often accused of a thousand lies and insulted. Of course, this is everyone's responsibility who tries to sow hatred in Georgia. Constantly sowing hatred – this is one of the national problems and challenges for our country. This mainly happens through spreading lies, defamation, and insults. Therefore, none of us should be surprised when a person experiences defamation and insult directed at them," Kobakhidze stated.
Journalists also asked him if he was interested in who was putting pressure on the former chairman of the Adjara government.
"Of course, not only I, but the investigation is interested in this issue. Of course, I will also monitor the investigation process since this is a very important issue. Accordingly, I hope that the investigation will establish all the details," the Georgian Dream Prime Minister replied.
On July 7, it was reported that Tornike Rizhvadze, former chairman of the Adjara government, was admitted to the Geohospital clinic in Sagarejo with a gunshot wound to the chest. After surgery, Rizhvadze was transferred to the First University Clinic in Tbilisi. He has a damaged lung.
An investigation into the case has been launched under suspicion of inducing suicide. The Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Aleksi Akhvlediani, the director of the Maritime Transport Agency, on charges of negligent storage of a firearm. On July 8, the court released him on bail.
According to the prosecution's version, on July 6, Tornike Rizhvadze visited Aleksi Akhvlediani, the head of the Maritime Transport Agency, in Sagarejo. After midnight, between 01:00 and 01:30, he secretly took a firearm belonging to the accused, who “had negligently left the weapon” in a glazed summer house near his residence. According to the official version, Rizhvadze secretly moved the weapon to the guest bedroom and, left alone, shot himself in the chest with the intent to commit suicide.
Government propaganda media outlets disseminated a letter that Tornike Rizhvadze allegedly wrote before his suicide attempt, in which Rizhvadze asked Bidzina Ivanishvili and Kobakhidze to protect his family. Additionally, according to pro-government media, Rizhvadze wrote that he was being accused of corruption and protecting drug dealers. Prosecutor Nugzar Chitadze confirmed the existence of the letter.
Tornike Rizhvadze, 36, served as the chairman of the government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara for almost seven years. In April 2025, he announced his resignation on social media.
