Irakli Kobakhidze, the Georgian Dream Prime Minister, stated that he personally and his friends have no grievances against Tornike Rizhvadze, who, according to the investigation's version, recently attempted suicide.
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A journalist from TV Pirveli asked Irakli Kobakhidze what they were accusing Tornike Rizhvadze of, given that Rizhvadze wrote in a "letter" that all his friends, colleagues, and family members are innocent.
"We were not accusing him of anything. I can tell you with full responsibility that no one has any grievances against Tornike Rizhvadze. I can tell you this with great responsibility.
Regarding the accusations, I gave you a public example of who was accusing Tornike Rizhvadze of, well, patronizing 'crime bosses' or whatever it was. You were also spreading a thousand shameful lies specifically about Tornike Rizhvadze.
Personally, my friends and I have no grievances against Tornike Rizhvadze. I repeat this to you. I had very good relations with him until the very end, including after he left his position there. I had several meetings, very warm meetings every time," Kobakhidze stated.
The Georgian Dream Prime Minister denied that he accused TV companies of Tornike Rizhvadze's "attempted suicide." Kobakhidze stated that he named the media as “one example that creates stress with shameful lies."
"I named shameful media outlets as one example. If we are talking about televisions, first of all, we should recall two shameful television media outlets - TV Pirveli and Formula, which dared to tell a thousand lies. For some, it might be stressful, for others not. For me, it's not, but for some, it is stressful," said Kobakhidze.
Tornike Rizhvadze, the former Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, was wounded by a gunshot and is currently receiving treatment in a clinic in Istanbul, Turkey.
According to the investigation's version, Tornike Rizhvadze was wounded on July 7 in Sagarejo at the home of Aleksandre Akhvlediani, the head of the Maritime Transport Agency. The Prosecutor's Office stated that he secretly took a firearm, which Akhvlediani had "negligently left," and, left alone, shot himself in the chest with the intent to commit suicide.
The investigation into the case has been launched under the qualification of "inciting to suicide." The Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Aleksi Akhvlediani on charges of negligent storage of a firearm. On July 8, he was released from the courtroom on bail as a measure of restraint.
Soon after the incident, pro-government propaganda media circulated a letter, which, according to their information, medical personnel found in the injured man's clothes. In this letter, Tornike Rizhvadze allegedly cited accusations of corruption and patronizing drug dealers as the reason for his attempted suicide.
"I hope Mr. Ivanishvili and the Prime Minister will protect my family. My friends, colleagues, family members – everyone acted on my instructions and orders. Everyone is innocent. I'll pay with my life," the letter circulated by TV Imedi stated.
The family transferred Tornike Rizhvadze from Tbilisi's First University Clinic to Istanbul in the early hours of July 9. Before that, Irakli Kobakhidze visited the former Chairman of the Adjara Government.
