logo
Businessman Giorgi Ramishvili Released on Bail

Businessman Giorgi Ramishvili Released on Bail

Civil.ge2 days ago
Businessman Giorgi Ramishvili, who was detained for allegedly carrying a firearm in his hand luggage at the airport, was released on bail of GEL 70,000 (approximately USD 26,000) following a late-evening court hearing on July 7.
Ramishvili, founder of the Silk Road Group, an investment company that brings together major Georgian businesses in communications and hospitality, was
detained
on July 6. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, law enforcement officers seized a firearm, a magazine, and cartridges while scanning his hand luggage at the departures terminal of Tbilisi International Airport.
Prosecutors
charged
him the next day with illegally carrying a firearm, a criminal offense punishable by four to seven years in prison, and requested Ramishvili's pretrial detention.
Ramishvili's detention drew public scrutiny and fueled suspicions that it was part of a broader crackdown by Georgian Dream targeting former officials and business associates, including through arrests or legislative initiatives introducing radical measures against those convicted of financial crimes. However, his defense dismissed any political motivation, describing the firearm incident as an 'unforeseen mistake.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Activist Jailed for Five Days Over 'Insult' in  Facebook Comment
Activist Jailed for Five Days Over 'Insult' in  Facebook Comment

Civil.ge

time15 hours ago

  • Civil.ge

Activist Jailed for Five Days Over 'Insult' in Facebook Comment

On July 9, Zugdidi District Court sent activist Rosto Zarandia to five days in administrative detention over a Facebook comment that Judge Irakli Abshilava ruled 'insulted' Zugdidi City Hall employee Magdalina Todua. In the comment, Zarandia called her 'Tvinge' and 'Poncho,' words in the Megrelian language, spoken in Georgia's western Samegrelo region, meaning 'stupid.' The case marks the first known instance of detention for an 'insult' on social media, while dozens of Georgian Dream critics, including opposition politicians, journalists, and activists, have been fined for similar acts. In February, the Georgian Dream parliament made insulting public officials and civil servants an administrative offense, one that court practice has shown also applies to social media activities. The case comes amid a continued crackdown on GD government critics, who are being fined or jailed for days for a number of controversial acts. Another citizen, Diana Gogoladze, on June 24 was fined GEL 2,500 (about USD 920) over a Facebook comment directed at a police officer, which the Tbilisi City Court also deemed was an 'insult.' In one of the most recent cases, on July 7, activist Alki Kordzaia was sent to five days in detention over a verbal confrontation with police officer Bidzina Zhamerashvili. Kordzaia confronted him in public, calling him 'shameless' and 'disgraceful.' Zhamerashvili is believed to have given false testimony in the case of 21-year-old activist Mate Devidze, who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for allegedly assaulting police officers. Also Read: This post is also available in: ქართული

Interior Ministry Rejects Political Targeting in Drug Roundups
Interior Ministry Rejects Political Targeting in Drug Roundups

Civil.ge

time15 hours ago

  • Civil.ge

Interior Ministry Rejects Political Targeting in Drug Roundups

Georgia's Interior Ministry said 314 people were tested for drugs across the country over the past week, rejecting claims that only protesters or opposition members were targeted. It called such claims a 'false campaign' aimed at 'misleading society.' 'The police cannot single out nor can it exclude a person based on their political views, which is itself not an indulgence for anyone,' the ministry said in a July 9 statement , released a day after reports emerged of activists and opposition party members being rounded up for drug testing. Calling for an end to what it called 'disinformation' surrounding the issue, the ministry said, 'All police actions, including drug checks, aim to combat the spread of narcotics and serve the best interests of our society.' According to the ministry, of the 314 individuals tested, 240 tested positive, while 23 refused testing. The ministry said both those who tested positive and those who refused will be fined for drug use under legislation that allows for fines or administrative detention in such cases. 'We also call on media representatives to not only avoid obstructing our work, but also to share responsibility in the fight against narcotics, where accurate reporting plays a special role,' the ministry added. Since the evening of July 8, several activists, including members of the opposition Lelo party, have reported being approached by police for drug checks, which Georgian Dream government critics claim are a new form of intimidation. On July 9, additional reports emerged of drug checks targeting members of the opposition Girchi-More Freedom party. Also on the night of July 8, the Interior Ministry arrested 34 people across Georgia on drug-related charges. According to GD Interior Minister Gela Geladze, the arrests included both Georgian and foreign citizens, and the charges ranged from possession to dealing. The Georgian Dream government has intensified its anti-drug rhetoric and tightened drug policies as part of its declared 'uncompromising' fight against narcotics. During its extraordinary sessions on July 2, the GD parliament rushed through legislative changes that criminalized the purchase and possession of more than five grams of marijuana, punishable by up to six years in prison. In a separate move, GD MPs also banned private entities from providing opioid replacement therapy and prohibited the import and wholesale of psychotropic substances by private entities. Also Read:

Georgia's Maritime Transport Agency head sacked amid gunshot scandal
Georgia's Maritime Transport Agency head sacked amid gunshot scandal

OC Media

time16 hours ago

  • OC Media

Georgia's Maritime Transport Agency head sacked amid gunshot scandal

Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member The director of Georgia's Maritime Transport Agency, Aleksi Akhvlediani, has been fired after the former head of Adjara, Tornike Rizhvadze, was shot in the chest using what appeared to be Akhvlediani's gun. Akhvlediani had served as the agency's director since May 2023. On Monday, the Georgian police launched an investigation into the incident involving the two officials, including on charges of negligent storage of a firearm, later confirming to local media that Akhvlediani had been detained on that charge. A Tbilisi court released Akhvlediani on ₾30,000 ($11,000) bail the following day. Tornike Rizhvadze was admitted with a gunshot wound to a local hospital in the town of Sagarejo, in the eastern Kakheti Region, on Monday morning and given emergency medical care. The incident reportedly took place at a house belonging to Akhvlediani's mother. Opposition-leaning channel TV Pirveli reported that Rizhvadze had been staying there with Akhvlediani for several days. Following the incident, pro-government media outlets asserted that Rizhvadze had left a suicide note in which he attributed his alleged suicide attempt to corruption charges against him and appealed to the ruling party to protect his family. However, there has been widespread scepticism of this version of events from government critics. Advertisement On Wednesday, Rizhvadze was transferred from the First University Clinic in Tbilisi to Turkey for further treatment. The online media outlet Publika cited the head of the First University Clinic, as saying he was transferred upon his family's request. 'He was transferred at around 2:00. The health condition was stable but serious — the patient was on a ventilator, although with improved parameters', Lali Turdzeladze told Publika.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store