The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has reported the arrest of a man who assaulted a Russian tourist at a hotel in Kakheti. According to one version of events, the incident began when Russian citizens poured water from a hotel room window onto a wedding party below, triggering a conflict between the two sides.
According to opposition politician Boris Chele Kurua, an angry Georgian man went up to the room and struck one of the women. Following the incident, the Russian citizens posted on social media and appealed to Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze for help.
“I wonder what he will do now,” Kurua wrote.
Boris Chele Kurua’s Version
According to Kurua, the Russian women poured water from a hotel window onto the wedding feast where guests were celebrating. Following this, one of the men, believed to be intoxicated, went up to their room and struck one of the women.
He emphasized that he does not excuse the man, as hitting a woman is unacceptable regardless of the circumstances. However, he noted that in the comments section of the video, Russians began tagging Kakha Kaladze, calling on him to intervene.
What the Russian Women Claim
According to reports, the women claim that the physical assault was triggered by them speaking Russian, which allegedly provoked the Georgians. One of those involved in the incident wrote:
“I am sick of this genocide. Why does anyone think they have the right to abuse a person because of their language?”
According to her, they have already given statements to the police.
Version of the Brother of the Man Involved in the Fight
The brother of the man caught on video also shared his perspective.
According to him, the women twice intentionally poured water onto the wedding guests, their banquet table, and the sound equipment, causing damage to the electronics.
He wrote:
“This is my brother. Of course, I do not condone violence, but the truth about what happened must be told. At my other brother’s wedding, these girls twice poured water on us because of the noise, aiming to damage the equipment, and they did indeed damage it. They spat at us, insulted us, and filmed everything at the same time to capture any possible reaction from our side.”
The Investigation
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, during a wedding celebration at a hotel in Telavi, foreign citizens staying at the hotel insulted the wedding guests from their room balcony and poured water on the sound equipment. Following this, the accused inflicted bodily injuries on the foreign national.
Officers from the Kakheti Police Department of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs detained one individual on charges of intentional infliction of minor bodily harm.
“The victim was taken to a medical facility to receive the necessary assistance.
As a result of operational measures and investigative actions, the suspect was detained. The investigation is being conducted under Article 120 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (‘Intentional infliction of minor bodily harm’), which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison,” the MIA statement said.
