საინფორმაციო სააგენტო ინტერპრესნიუსი

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has released information regarding the arrest of Eldar [Luka] Kurtanidze, former MP from the “Georgian Dream” party and veteran wrestler.

Former “Georgian Dream” MP and veteran wrestler Luka Kurtanidze has been arrested. The information was confirmed to Interpressnews by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the ministry, Luka Kurtanidze was arrested on charges of domestic violence and violation of the requirements and obligations outlined in a restraining order, under Articles 126¹ and 381¹ of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

According to Mikheil Kavelashvili, his proposal regarding the pardoning of several opposition leaders still stands.

“Of course, temptations existed in the past, exist now, and will continue to exist in the future — what matters is how our institutions respond,” said Mikheil Kavelashvili to journalists, commenting on the arrest of the former Deputy Minister of Defense and two other individuals by the State Security Service (SSS).

Paata Manjgaladze, one of the leaders of “Strategy Aghmashenebeli,” stated: “With Bidzina Ivanishvili, corruption has always been a form of governance. For him and his mafia-like mindset, corruption is not a crime – for him, the real crime is if you take more for yourself and bring less to Ivanishvili.”

This so-called anti-corruption effort, which we are now witnessing from the Kobakhidze administration, has nothing to do with genuine anti-corruption. What they are calling an anti-corruption campaign is, in reality, being used as a tool for infighting and intra-clan conflict ahead of the elections, said Grigol Gegelia, Foreign Secretary of “Lelo – For a Strong Georgia.”

According to my information, Juansher Burchuladze was detained all day yesterday and was released for one reason only — if he brings a specific amount of money to Bidzina. If he doesn’t do that, he will share the fate of his deputy and relative,” said Levan Khabeishvili, Chairman of the Political Council of the United National Movement.

Under the slogan “17 Russian soldiers in Antsukhelidze’s country,” a protest rally is taking place near the new Sports Palace. According to the participants, they are protesting the participation of 25 Russian athletes in the World Fencing Championship being held in Georgia, 17 of whom, according to their information, are military personnel.

As a result of operational-search and investigative actions carried out by the Anti-Corruption Agency of the State Security Service of Georgia, and based on a court order, the former Deputy Minister of Defense of Georgia, G.Kh., the former Head of the Procurement Department of the same ministry, V.G., and V.M., a close relative of the then Minister of Defense, have been arrested — this was announced by Emzar Gagnidze, Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, during a briefing at the State Security Service.

Police have arrested one person in Tbilisi on charges of premeditated murder. According to information released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

Bidzina's Chinese Maradona says nobody has been able to provide evidence for so long that his master is Russia’s man - wherever you look and whatever you look into, Russia is everywhere, - Zurab Girchi Japaridze, one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, writes in a letter sent from prison, which has been posted on his Facebook page. Japaridze responds to Irakli Kobakhidze's statement that "there is no fact confirming Bidzina Ivanishvili's Russian connections".

Lies and disinformation by the Georgian Dream regarding the EU's objectives in Georgia will not succeed, reads a statement issued by the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili responds to the Swedish Foreign Ministry’s statement, stating that it is insincere to condemn anything by them until they do not condemn the “call by Swedish government member Erik Ottosson to overthrow the Georgian government.”

The court fined activists Datuna Danelia and Giorgi Dumbadze 5,000 GEL each for their actions during the eviction of citizens from a building on Tvalchrelidze Street.

I understand the excuses of the EU spokesperson, but the facts speak differently. I am very sorry that the EU is not acting in partnership with Georgia, but using Soviet methods - they call everything Russian, said Dimitri Khundadze, the chairman of the parliamentary political group People’s Power, responding to the statement of the EU spokesperson.

The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs responds to the statement of the EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and states that Sweden condemns the disinformation spread against the EU and the EU Ambassador to Georgia.

Court fines 2 more people, administratively detained on Tvalchrelidze Street, who are reportedly socially vulnerable, 2,000 GEL each - trial of the 4 detainees postponed.