Prosecutor Goga Kakochashvili does not rule out that businessman Tamaz Elizbarashvili, who is charged with making threats, may face more serious charges under Article 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia regarding weapons. He stated this to journalists after the court hearing.

More specifically, when asked by journalists why, if Tamaz Elizbarashvili actually had a weapon, no related charge has been brought against him, the prosecutor replied that investigative actions are ongoing in this regard.

“We have not mentioned a firearm. The stated position is that he demonstratively returned armed to the restaurant premises. At this stage, the collected evidence has revealed signs of a possible crime under Article 151 of the Criminal Code [threats]; accordingly, the accused was charged under this article. The investigation is ongoing. A number of pieces of evidence have been seized in the case; when there is a body of evidence that reveals signs of a crime under Article 236 of the Criminal Code, the charges will be clarified,” the prosecutor said.

Afterwards, when asked whether the charges against Tamaz Elizbarashvili might be aggravated, the prosecutor replied that he rules nothing out.

“I do not rule anything out in terms of evaluating the evidence obtained as a result of the investigative actions conducted. The victims perceived the threat as real. The real threat began in the restaurant and then continued with the accused’s return to the restaurant. The next day, the accused again goes to the same restaurant where the threat took place, looks for the victims and the persons who participated in the verbal conflict the previous day, and later, through statuses posted on social media, gives a certain amount of time to apologize. Otherwise, he threatens and intimidates the victims again,” Goga Kakochashvili stated.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has charged Tamaz Elizbarashvili with making threats. According to the investigation, on August 30 of this year, a verbal conflict occurred between Elizbarashvili and the victim in one of Tbilisi’s restaurants over a comment written on social media. According to the agency, Elizbarashvili threatened the victims with deprivation of life and damage to health, and later, with the aim of carrying out the threat, returned to the scene armed and tried to force his way into the restaurant. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, on August 31 the accused also published a video address on social media in which he continued the threats.