The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged businessman and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili under the Criminal Code article on issuing threats.
According to the investigation, on August 30 at around 11:40 p.m., Tamaz Elizbarashvili ran into one of the victims at a restaurant in Tbilisi. A verbal altercation broke out between them over a comment the entrepreneur had previously posted on social media directed at this individual and members of his family.
“During the verbal dispute, Tamaz Elizbarashvili began threatening the victim and those accompanying him. Specifically, he stated that he would not let the matter drop, that he would return in about 30 minutes, and demanded that they not leave the restaurant premises. Because the victims were aware that Tamaz Elizbarashvili possessed a firearm that he could use against them, they had reasonable grounds to fear for their lives and health, which prompted them to leave the establishment.
At approximately 00:20, Tamaz Elizbarashvili returned to the scene with the intent of carrying out his threats. He was armed, kept his hand demonstratively inside his jacket pocket, and attempted to force his way into the restaurant. Furthermore, he continued to level threats and insults at the victims. Some of the victims who had not yet managed to leave and were near the restaurant had reasonable grounds to fear that these threats would be carried out. Despite being barred by the security personnel, Tamaz Elizbarashvili nevertheless made his way onto the restaurant premises. After confirming that the victims were no longer there, he left the establishment,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
According to the agency, on August 31, Tamaz Elizbarashvili posted a text message and a video address on social media in which he continued to voice threats and demand an apology, leading “the victims to experience well-founded fears for their health and lives.”
Tamaz Elizbarashvili has been charged under Part 1 of Article 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (threat to inflict harm to health or take life when an individual has sufficient grounds to fear its execution), which carries a sentence of up to one year of imprisonment.
As previously reported, Elizbarashvili was taken into custody on September 1 under administrative law for disobeying a lawful order of a police officer. His detention was preceded by searches of his vehicle and apartment as part of an investigation into two criminal charges: Article 151 (threat) and Article 236 (unlawful acquisition, storage, and carrying of firearms).
Tamaz Elizbarashvili himself claims that the police report against him was filed by employees of the pro-government TV channel Imedi, with whom he had a verbal exchange at the restaurant on August 30. The businessman asserts that it was the Imedi staff who first assaulted him and began threatening him over his political views.