Your Honor, there is a cascade of evidence that Gela Udzilauri acted on orders and for profit. He did not know Levan Jangveladze and had no personal conflict with him, stated Levan Vepkhvadze, the prosecutor in the case of Gela Udzilauri, who is charged with the murder of Levan Jangveladze, the brother of the so-called “thief-in-law” Merab Jangveladze, and the attempted murder of his driver, Gia Chaduneli, during the court proceedings.

Before delivering his opening statement, Vepkhvadze presented additional evidence in the case, including the medical forensic report on Levan Jangveladze’s body.

Vepkhvadze spoke in detail about the actions carried out by Udzilauri. In his opening statement, the prosecutor emphasized that the murder was committed on orders and for profit.

“Gela Udzilauri, acting for profit and on orders, committed premeditated murder by inflicting 14 wounds using a method that endangered the lives and health of others. He also attempted to murder Gia Chaduneli,” Vepkhvadze stated.

According to his explanation, the accused, Davit and Giorgi Mikadze, had a certain dispute with Levan Jangveladze. In agreement with other individuals, they planned the murder, and Gela Udzilauri agreed to carry it out for financial gain.

“Giorgi Jokhadze arranged a meeting for Gela Udzilauri at ‘Tbilisi Towers,’ where the Mikadze brothers met him. They tasked Udzilauri with surveilling Levan Jangveladze and selecting a suitable time for the murder…

The information obtained from surveilling Levan Jangveladze was provided by Udzilauri through various means to Giorgi Jokhadze, Giorgi and Davit Mikadze, and others for their information.

Through Jokhadze, Davit and Giorgi Mikadze provided Udzilauri with information about Levan Jangveladze’s arrival in Georgia and his movements on March 14, 2025. Udzilauri then began executing the preparations for the murder…

Gela Udzilauri had detailed information about when Levan Jangveladze would arrive at Chavchavadze Avenue for a memorial service. In a crowded place, acting on orders and for profit, Gela Udzilauri fired multiple shots from a firearm at Jangveladze. The medical forensic report presented in the case shows that Udzilauri inflicted wounds not only from the front but also from behind, indicating how prepared he was and what his intent was—to ensure Levan Jangveladze’s death. Afterward, he fled the scene by taxi, went to Vazisubani, and then took another taxi toward Kareli. After that, he began seeking safety and looking for his contractor, Giorgi Jokhadze.

Gela Udzilauri activated a phone number obtained in Poland, and the investigation conducted a series of investigative actions to identify him. According to the taxi driver’s testimony, Udzilauri stopped the car on the road to Kareli, got out for a period, and then returned to Tbilisi, apparently unable to find a safe haven. He returned to ‘Tbilisi Towers,’ where he began watching news reports to find out who was being sought and how. Using the hotel’s phone and WhatsApp, he tried to contact Jokhadze, who did not respond. He then went to Jokhadze’s relative, Mamuka Baghdavadze… The next day, he returned to Baghdavadze but left the area. At the time of Gela Udzilauri’s arrest, in addition to possessing a firearm and ammunition, he had 17,100 GEL on him, and 2,200 USD was seized from his home.

Your Honor, this is not the prosecution’s version; these are circumstances confirmed by evidence.

This is a case with not only individual pieces of evidence but a totality of evidence. Your Honor, 22 volumes of evidence are presented before you, each of which has decisive significance against Gela Udzilauri.

Your Honor, there is a cascade of evidence that Gela Udzilauri acted on orders and for profit, did not know Levan Jangveladze, and had no relationship with him.

Your Honor, at the stage of closing arguments, based on the evidence, we request that Gela Udzilauri be found guilty of the charges brought against him and, due to the nature, circumstances, and gravity of the crime, be sentenced to life imprisonment,” Vepkhvadze stated.

For reference, Gela Udzilauri has been detained on charges of Levan Jangveladze’s murder.

The incident occurred on March 14, 2025, at 11:30 PM in Tbilisi, on Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue. According to the prosecution, Udzilauri fired multiple shots from a firearm at Levan Jangveladze and his driver, Gia Chaduneli, in a crowded place. As a result of multiple injuries, Jangveladze died at the scene, while Chaduneli was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

Gela Udzilauri is charged under Article 19.109, subsections “b” and “l” of the Criminal Code of Georgia (attempted premeditated murder of two persons using a method that endangers the lives and health of others) and Article 236, parts 3 and 4 (illegal acquisition, storage, and carrying of a firearm), which carries a penalty of 16 to 20 years or life imprisonment.