Lawyer on Balda Attack: Actions Were Part of Necessary Repulsion

“During the investigation, the doctor noted that the victim, who underwent a number of tests and has already been discharged from the hospital, has not suffered any life-threatening injuries. The victim can move with minor injuries and is not in such a condition that his health is severely compromised or that he cannot move. If Gela Khurtsilava had intended to kill, he would have prepared the weapon in advance, but there was no bullet cartridge in the gun. As for the other victims, the claim that the gun was fired at everyone is contradicted by the injuries visible on the faces of these people (Khurtsilavas). This group always tries to aggravate the legal situation not only for Khurtsilava but also for other persons” lawyer Giorgi Bardavelidze told the judge.

Levan Martiashvili, the second lawyer representing the brothers accused in the attack, demanded a response to the "illegal detention of the Khurtsilava brothers by the people in the tent."

"People are calling, we got scared when we saw the Danes; they went and armed 2 out of 8 people. If they were armed with clubs and beat these brothers with clubs, no one mentions that. The prosecution has no interest in finding out. None of the policemen stated in their testimony that when they arrived at the scene an hour after receiving the message, they found both brothers with their hands tied. This is illegal detention, not suspension," said the lawyer.

"Before the policemen arrived, my brother and I were crippled," the accused Gela Khurtsilavi said at the trial.

"I support the work being done on Baldy Canyon and I am in favor of its reconstruction. You, on the other hand, are biased and are acting in someone else's interest by opposing the reconstruction. I may be involved in this project, which I welcome, but just because you do not want to work, someone else does, and if I delay this project, I will pay you your share, which is not morally right.

He took this step to protect his wife from the people who are engaging in all this illegality. There was no assassination attempt here.

The escalation of the issue is only because the person accused of threatening a member of the Khurtsilavi family, along with others who have carried out such actions, is now seeking revenge against the Khurtsilava brothers." This is how lawyer Bardavelidze tried to explain the incident and voiced unsubstantiated accusations against the Balda Canyon guards.

Both lawyers defending the Khurtsilava brothers, who are accused of the attack, are hired by Balda Investor. Giorgi Bardavelidze is defending Giorgi Merkviladze, the director of Kanioni 350 LLC, in the case involving the beating of Tsotne Tvaradze, the Balda Canyon guard.

The attack took place in Balda on June 11, late in the evening. According to the prosecutor's office, it was established that Gela Khurtsilava stabbed 33-year-old Mindia Bzhalava, a fellow villager, with a knife, and 32-year-old Archil Bzhalava was also injured during the incident. Additionally, it was established that the accused brothers threatened to kill locals by demonstrating a knife and a hunting rifle. The investigation is being conducted under Articles 19-108 (attempted murder) and 151 (threat) of the Criminal Code. Attempted murder is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Baldi Canyon Guardian Indiko Bzhalava is also arrested, accused of taking the life of Gela Khurtsilava's wife, Sopio Shakulashvili, before the attack. Bzhalava was arrested on the basis of forged testimony by the investigator. Mtis Ambebi is preparing an investigative report on this case and will publish it soon.

The injured Mindia Bzhalava recalled the details of the attack in an interview with Mtis Ambebi:

"I just got home from work when I heard that some boys were hiding below and planning to go up to the tent to kill. A few of my neighbors also came out, so I got into a car with them, and we headed towards the tent. On the way, we encountered Gela Khurtsilava, who slowed down before the ascent. We signaled to him, and he asked who we were signaling to. I explained that we were going to the tent and asked her to let us pass. He swarmed at us and then drove off. Soon after, we encountered his brother on horseback, who shouted, using vulgar language, asking why we were letting them go. His brother then got off the horse, pulled out a gun, and aimed it at the driver, demanding that he get out.

The driver and everyone else became confused when a gun was pointed at us. Maia Shavdia moved from our car to try to calm him down, and I followed suit. I reached for my phone, intending to call the guys in the tent to explain the situation. Gela Khurtsilava shouted, "You're filming," and came straight towards me,

pointing a gun barrel at me. I instinctively grabbed the gun, intending to disarm him, but I didn't realize he had a knife behind him. He slashed at my throat and ears. A struggle ensued, during which he demanded that I give him the gun. I refused, and he stabbed me a second time in the chest and hand.

The women screamed as I was being attacked. I was wounded, and at that moment, he stabbed me three more times. I managed to grab the gun and threw it over the fence. As I turned around, he also turned and stabbed me in the back again, shouting, "Where is the gun?" When he couldn't find the gun, he grabbed me, intent on killing me. Eventually, they took me to the hospital,” Mindia Bzhalava has 7 wounds.

Balda Canyon, along with several unique natural landmarks under the jurisdiction of the Agency of Protected Areas, has been owned by the same group for decades. An investigative report by Mtis Ambebi revealed that both former and current high-ranking officials of the Georgian Dream government are leading figures in this group: Valerian Mchedlidze, the former chairman of the Protected Areas Agency, and Mamuka Merkviladze, who was appointed as the head of the Georgian section in Russia. Mtis Ambebi investigated and found that the decisions leading to this group's acquisition of these protected territories, held for 20, 35, and 40 years, were made during Valerian Mchedlidze's tenure as chairman. Following his resignation, Mchedlidze and his family members were largely allocated substantial shares, some of which were acquired at symbolic and preferential prices. Additionally, Mchedlidze is reported to have paid money to certain companies, a transaction that, based on his property declaration, should not have occurred. Despite these allegations of corruption, Valerian Mchedlidze is currently overseeing the largest project funded by the German state for the development of protected areas in Georgia, with a budget exceeding 16 million euros.