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OC Media
4 days ago
- Business
- OC Media
Head of Georgia's Silk Road Group released on bail following gun arrest
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 Georgian businessperson Giorgi (Zarala) Ramishvili, who was detained at Tbilisi Airport for the illegal possession of a firearm, was released on bail on Monday. Ramishvili described the incident as an oversight, saying he hadn't noticed the small firearm while packing his bag before departure. Tbilisi City Court made the decision to release the businessman during Monday's hearing, setting bail at ₾70,000 ($26,000). In doing so, the court rejected the prosecution's request for pre-trial detention. The head of Georgia's fourth largest company, Silk Road Group, was detained on Saturday. According to the Interior Ministry, officers seized a firearm, a magazine, and cartridges from Ramishvili on Saturday after scanning his hand baggage at the departure terminal. Though it was determined that the firearm was registered to Ramishvili, the ministry claimed he did not have the right to carry it. According to local media, Ramishvili told the court that it had been a 'mistake'. 'I was flying out, the gun was in my bag, and I simply didn't notice it. So the classification that I was 'carrying' a firearm isn't accurate — it was just in the bag', RFE/RL quoted him as saying. Advertisement The businessman also said he regretted the incident, but called the prosecution's request for his detention 'excessive'. 'What do I have to run from? I have a lot of responsibilities and 7,000 employees', he added in response to prosecutors who cited flight risk. Ramishvili currently holds a 36.3% stake in Silk Road Holding — the rest is held by Kazakh businessperson Erkin Tatishev, who owns the same percentage; Alexei Topuria, who owns 16.7%; David Franz Borger who owns 5.6%; and Davit Mamulaishvili, who owns 5%. Included among the Silk Road Group's companies are Silknet, Georgia's second largest mobile operator and internet provider; Silk Real Estate, which owns the Radisson brand in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Tsinandali as well as the Iveria casino in Tbilisi and Batumi; Silk Bank, whose assets are worth ₾188 million ($70 million); and Silk Media, which includes the TV company Silknet and the Georgian language version of Euronews. Ramishvili also owns a minority stake of 15.5% in Wissol Petroleum, one of Georgia's largest oil companies. His detention sparked speculation about a possible link between the incident and the government's alleged attempts to intimidate businesspeople.
Civil.ge
5 days ago
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Businessman Giorgi Ramishvili Released on Bail
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.'
Civil.ge
5 days ago
- Politics
- Civil.ge
Prosecutors Charge Businessman Giorgi Ramishvili with Illegally Carrying Firearm
The Prosecutor's Office on July 7 charged Giorgi Ramishvili, a prominent Georgian businessman and founder of the Silk Road Group, with illegally carrying a firearm, a criminal offense punishable by four to seven years in prison. Ramishvili was detained a day earlier, with police reporting that law enforcers seized a firearm, a magazine, and cartridges while examining his hand luggage through a scanner at the departures terminal of Tbilisi International Airport. 'The defendant was found to have in his carry-on luggage a 9mm caliber 'WALTHER PPK/S' model firearm, registered to him for possession, along with a magazine and seven rounds of 9mm caliber live ammunition, which he was carrying illegally,' the Prosecutor's Office said , as it has requested Ramishvili's pretrial detention pending the final verdict. Following his arrest, the Silk Road Group urged in a statement 'all interested parties to refrain from spreading unverified information,' noting that 'relevant legal procedures are underway.' Ramishvili's lawyer, Irma Chkadua, rejected any political motives behind the case, describing the incident as an 'unforeseen mistake.' 'He [Ramishvili] does not link the detention to anything. What should he be linking to? This incident has absolutely no connection to politics,' Chkadua told TV Pirveli , adding that Ramishvili will himself provide additional details. 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. Today, July 7, Tornike Rizhvadze, the former head of the Adjara government, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound. Pro-government media described the incident as a suicide attempt, but critics expressed skepticism about this account. 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 restricts others 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 or party 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.' Also Read:
OC Media
5 days ago
- Business
- OC Media
Head of Georgia's Silk Road Group detained at Tbilisi Airport
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 head of Georgia's fourth largest company, Silk Road Group, has been detained at Tbilisi Airport for 'illegal possession of a firearm'. According to the Interior Ministry, officers seized a firearm, magazine, and cartridges from Giorgi 'Zarala' Ramishvili on Saturday after scanning his luggage. Though it was determined that the firearm was registered to Ramishvili, the ministry claimed he did not have the right to carry it. An investigation was subsequently opened into the illegal purchase or storage of a firearm and ammunition — which carries a sentence of three to six years in prison — and the illegal carrying of a firearm, ammunition, explosive substance, or explosive device — which carries a sentence of four to seven years in prison. A statement by the Silk Road Group published later that day called for people to 'refrain from disseminating unverified information', as legal proceedings were underway. Ramishvili currently holds a 36.3% stake in Silk Road Holding — the rest is held by Kazakh businessperson Erkin Tatishev, who owns the same percentage; Alexei Topuria, who owns 16.7%; David Franz Borger who owns 5.6%; and Davit Mamulaishvili, who owns 5%. Included among the Silk Road Group's companies are Silknet, Georgia's second largest mobile operator and internet provider; Silk Real Estate, which owns the Radisson brand in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Tsinandali as well as the Iveria casino in Tbilisi and Batumi; Silk Bank, whose assets are worth ₾188 million ($70 million); and Silk Media, which includes the TV company Silknet and the Georgian language version of Euronews. Advertisement Ramishvili also owns a minority stake of 15.5% in Wissol Petroleum, one of Georgia's largest oil companies. There has been widespread speculation that the arrest was politically motivated. Levan Khabiashvili, the former chair of the opposition United National Movement (UNM) speculated in a post on Facebook that the arrest was part of a campaign to pressure businesspeople. He accused Georgian Dream founder Bidzina Ivanishvili of giving businesspeople a choice: 'either bring money, or go to Irakli Kobakhidze's office and shake his hand, confess'. This was an apparent reference to a meeting between Prime Minister Kobakhidze and prominent members of the business community on 4 July. The meeting's attendees included Irakli Rukhadze, owner of Imedi TV, the heads of Liberty Bank, Bank of Georgia, Geo Hospitals, Basis Bank, Credo Bank, Aversi, Georgian Airways, and Temur Chkonia, founder of Coca Cola Bottlers Georgia. Ramishvili reportedly did not attend. 'Zarala [Ramishvili] did neither of these. Accordingly, they are punishing him for this. If you don't do it, they will arrest you on any charges. It will not be difficult for [Ivanishvili] to plant a weapon, or to do anything, it doesn't matter whose side you were on, or whose side you are on now', Khabiashvili wrote on Facebook.
Civil.ge
6 days ago
- 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….
