Latest news with #236
Civil.ge
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Businessman Giorgi Ramishvili Arrested Over Carrying 'Firearm' in Airport
Giorgi Ramishvili, a prominent Georgian businessman and founder of the Silk Road Group, was arrested on July 6, with police claiming he was carrying a firearm in his hand luggage at the departures terminal of Tbilisi International Airport. Law enforcement officers 'seized a firearm, a magazine, and cartridges while examining [Ramishvili's] hand luggage through a scanner,' the Georgian Interior Ministry reported late on July 6, hours after initial reports of his arrest. According to the Ministry, the firearm was registered in Ramishvili's name, but he did not hold a license to carry it. The investigation has been launched under Parts 3 and 4 of Article 236 of the Criminal Code, which concern the illegal carrying and transportation of firearms and ammunition and carry a penalty of up to nine years in prison. Silk Road Group brings together several major companies, including Silknet, a leading local communications provider. Silknet has also introduced international media products to Georgia, including a Georgian broadcast of Euronews and the publication of a local version of the National Geographic magazine. The report of Ramishvili's arrest comes amid what is seen as mounting pressure on current and former figures in political and business circles close to the ruling Georgian Dream party and its founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili. Former Deputy Economy Minister Romeo Mikautadze was arrested in June on corruption-related charges, facing up to 12 years in prison. Earlier, Ivanishvili's former associate Giorgi Bachiashvili, convicted in absentia for allegedly misappropriating cryptocurrency, was arrested after what Bachiashvili argued was his abduction from a foreign land with the direct involvement of State Security Service Head Anri Okhanashvili. In May, the court sentenced businessman Giorgi Chikvaidze and his associate to eight and nine years in prison, respectively, on charges of embezzling funds Several high-ranking officials, including ministers known to have enjoyed Ivanishvili's trust, left their posts over the past few months. Coincidentally, the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament is pushing through a legislative package that would bar individuals convicted of financial crimes from leaving the country, even after they have served their sentence. The legislation, which has passed two readings and is expected to be adopted during the fall session, introduces radical measures to recover embezzled or stolen funds, including from the convict's relatives. It also prohibits those relatives from providing financial assistance to the offender on pain of criminal prosecution. This legislation is believed to serve Ivanishvili's drive to punish those, including former business associates, whom he suspects of misusing his funds and breaching trust. Two days before Ramishvili's arrest, GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a meeting with businesspeople. According to the official press release , the meeting touched on 'positive trends in the country's economy and the high economic growth pace.' Salome Zurabishvili, Georgia's fifth president, linked Ramishvili's arrest with broader Georgian Dream repression. 'After activists, journalists, political leaders, the arrests are now turning to big business! Today's most recent case is that of George Ramishvili, owner of a major internet provider, founder of Euronews Georgia and an old-time business partner of Zurabishvili wrote on X . More to follow….
TimesLIVE
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
SVI unveils B4+ armoured Jeep Grand Cherokee with AK-47 protection
SVI Engineering has partnered with Stellantis South Africa to create a special, discreetly armoured version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee five-seater SUV. The package boasts AK-47 protection and does not affect the vehicle's five-year/100,000km manufacturer warranty and five-year/100,000km maintenance plan. The B4+ armouring components are separately covered by SVI's one-year/50,000km warranty. SVI's bespoke armouring package for the five-seater version of the Grand Cherokee offers B4+ protection, meaning it is rated to withstand attacks not only from handguns but also from the ubiquitous AK-47 assault rifle. The ballistic package is concealed and virtually imperceptible to the untrained eye. Comprising custom-fabricated armoured steel plates, lightweight composite materials and special 32mm ballistic glass curved to OEM specification, the Jeep-supported B4+ solution for the Grand Cherokee was developed in-house by SVI. In addition to the concealed body armour (including inside the pillars) and imported ballistic glass, the Grand Cherokee conversion incorporates partial firewall protection and an armoured rear bulkhead — the latter complete with a neatly integrated escape hatch — behind the second row of seats. In total, the armouring materials add about 400kg to the SUV's total mass. The Grand Cherokee's driver assistance safety systems — including those that rely on sensors mounted behind the windscreen — remain fully operational. The driver's window can be lowered about one-third of the way, allowing access to parking ticket machines and biometric readers. SVI's Jeep-supported B4+ armouring solution for the Grand Cherokee five-seater is priced from R1,236,814 (excluding VAT). The Bashewa-based armouring specialist also offers a standard B4 discreet package for the Grand Cherokee — including the 7-seater 'L' model — providing protection against handguns (up to .44 Magnum), with pricing starting at R833,684 (excluding VAT).
