Prosecutor Goga Kakochashvili does not rule out that charges against businessman Tamaz Elizbarashvili, who is accused of making threats, could be upgraded to include weapons offenses under Article 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (illegal purchase, possession, or carrying of weapons). He made this statement to reporters following the conclusion of a court hearing.
Specifically, responding to a question as to why Elizbarashvili was not charged under this article if he indeed had a weapon on him, the prosecutor stated that investigative actions in this regard are currently underway.
“We did not specifically mention firearms. The official position is that he demonstratively returned to the restaurant premises armed. At this stage, the evidence collected points to the elements of an offense under Article 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia [making threats], which is why he was charged under this article. The investigation continues. A number of pieces of material evidence have been seized in the case. Once a body of evidence is established confirming the elements of an offense under Article 236 of the Criminal Code, the charges will be clarified,” the prosecutor stated.
At the same time, the prosecution representative did not rule out that the charge Elizbarashvili currently faces could be reclassified to a more severe one:
“I am not ruling anything out in terms of assessing the evidence obtained during the investigation. The victims perceived the threat as real. A real threat emerged inside the restaurant and continued after the defendant returned there. The following day, he returned to the same establishment where the incident occurred, looking for the victims and the individuals who had been involved in the verbal altercation the day before. Later, through social media posts, he issued an ultimatum setting a deadline for an apology, using foul language and once again threatening the victims,” Kakochashvili noted.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has already charged Tamaz Elizbarashvili in connection with making threats. According to the investigation, on August 30 of this year, an altercation erupted between the businessman and the victim at a Tbilisi restaurant over a social media comment. According to the agency, Elizbarashvili threatened his opponents with murder and grievous bodily harm, and later, intending to carry out the threats, returned to the scene armed and attempted to force his way into the venue. Investigators also stated that on August 31, the defendant posted a video message online containing new threats.
As a reminder, Tamaz Elizbarashvili was initially detained on administrative charges on September 1 during a search of his apartment. On September 3, the prosecutor’s office charged him under Part 1 of Article 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (threat to cause bodily harm or deprive of life, when a person had sufficient grounds to fear the execution of that threat).