According to Lali Turdzaladze, Clinical Director of the First University Clinic, the transfer of the former Chairman of the Government of Adjara, Tornike Rizhvadze, to a clinic in Turkey for treatment was carried out at the request of his family.

As she told 'InterpressNews', Tornike Rizhvadze was transferred to Turkey by air at 2:00 AM.

"Yes, he was transferred. His condition allowed for it; he was stable. He was transferred by air. His transfer to Turkey was the family's wish. At first, they hadn’t made a final decision, but later they did, and he was taken at 2:00 AM," Turdzaladze said.

Furthermore, as Turdzaladze later told the media, Tornike Rizhvadze was taken to one of the clinics in Istanbul.

"Tornike was in an absolutely stable condition. When he woke up, he was responsive, with improved parameters – however, we kept him on mechanical ventilation because it was not safe to remove him from it during air travel. Of course, he is a critical patient and on mechanical ventilation, but his parameters had improved significantly, and he was fully responsive. He was transferred entirely at the family's request. Neither Levan nor the Prime Minister mentioned it earlier because the family had not yet made a decision — they did so later. Turkey accepted him in a stable condition – otherwise, they wouldn’t have taken him, since it involved a flight. He was transferred with absolutely stable, even significantly improved, parameters," said Lali Turdzaladze.

For context: On July 7, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that Tornike Rizhvadze, the former Chairman of the Government of Adjara, was admitted to "GeoHospitals" in Sagarejo with a gunshot wound to the chest. According to the ministry, he received emergency medical care. Later, Rizhvadze was transferred from Sagarejo to the First University Clinic. In connection with the case, Aleksi Akhvlediani was detained and charged with the negligent storage of a firearm. The court set his bail at 30,000 GEL and released him from the courtroom.