Eka Kupatadze: I told the defendant that he was in love with my son - Giga Avaliani managed to fall in love with Giorgi Malania in three lessons, and by the fourth lesson, he had already helped in Giga’s murder

“I personally addressed the defendant several times and told him that he [Giorgi Malania] was in love with my son. It is true that Giorgi was with Giga only four times. By the fourth lesson, he had already helped in Giga’s murder,” the mother of murdered teacher Giga Avaliani, Eka Kupatadze, said after the court hearing in the case of one of the defendants, Giorgi Malania.

Kupatadze also spoke about the evidence attached to the case and focused on the meeting and conversations between defendants Aleksandre Gabashvili and Giorgi Malania.

“As you heard about provocations outside from the family members of the other defendants, Malania’s family members continued in the same way, staging provocations both before I entered the courtroom and afterward.

As for the court hearing, although I was unable to say everything I wanted to in court, Giga lived for 28 years and eight months. Even if they let me speak for 28 years and eight months, I probably still would not be able to say everything I have to say. However, the judge gave me quite a lot of time and listened to me attentively. He allowed me to finish absolutely every sentence. I think my position, which I expressed today, was fully clear to the judge.

I personally addressed the defendant several times and told him that he [Giorgi Malania] was in love with my son. It is true that Giorgi was with Giga only four times. By the fourth lesson, he had already helped in Giga’s murder. His fourth lesson was on October 1, but during those three lessons, my son managed to fall in love with Giorgi Malania and even had time to tell me about it.

The case included evidence based on information obtained from people close to Malania’s family, which confirmed that Giorgi Malania provided Aleksandre Gabashvili with the address and schedule of the center. He did not know Giga’s home address.

Nia Imnadze introduced Giorgi Malania to Aleksandre Gabashvili after Aleksandre Gabashvili and Nia Imnadze had planned the attack on Giga, and she introduced them for this very purpose. I am saying this based on the evidence in the case, not on my suspicions or assumptions. She introduced them on September 28. On September 26, there were screenshots of Giga’s photographs on Aleksandre Gabashvili’s phone, and on September 28, at around six minutes before 6 p.m., Aleksandre Gabashvili contacted Giorgi Malania on Instagram.

Their [Aleksandre Gabashvili’s and Giorgi Malania’s] relationship continued even after the attack. Aleksandre Gabashvili asked Giorgi Malania to become friends and establish a close relationship.

Aleksandre Gabashvili met Giorgi Malania on September 29. On October 1, he contacted him before the lesson began, at 6:30 p.m., and immediately after the lesson ended, at 8:01 p.m., when he was supposed to be with his father, and then again 35–37 minutes before the murder. He clarified many details, including what Giga was wearing. Aleksandre Gabashvili had learned specific details about Giga Avaliani’s clothing,” Eka Kupatadze said.