Prepared by Messenger Staff
Police Fatally Shoot Suspect During Raid in Kabali Village, Family Alleges Excessive Force
A police operation in the village of Kabali on Wednesday resulted in the death of 52-year-old Mirza Aliev, according to authorities and the victim's family. The incident occurred during a special operation targeting alleged members of the so-called "criminal underworld."
Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said 34 individuals were detained during the operation. He stated that Aliev, against whom an arrest warrant had been issued, opened fire on special forces, injuring one officer. Police returned fire, killing Aliev on the spot.
"During the operation in the village of Kabali, Lagodekhi district, one of the suspects, 52-year-old Mirza Aliev, opened intensive fire on the special forces. One officer was seriously wounded in the chest. In response, police returned fire, resulting in Aliev's death at the scene," Darakhvelidze said.
Family members said that Aliev had believed masked intruders were burglarizing his home when he fired the first shot. They also accused police of using excessive force, claiming that officers entered the house without warning.
"No one has told us why they stormed in or why they wanted to detain him. From what we know, when Mirza saw masked men entering, he thought they were burglars and fired. The special unit returned fire, killing him on the spot. You can see what condition the house is in. The walls and windows are riddled with bullet holes. We don't believe Mirza had any ties to the criminal world," the family said.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not yet released further details about the circumstances that led to the exchange of gunfire.
Council of Europe Issues Warning After Detention of Georgian Journalist
The Council of Europe's Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists has issued a warning following the detention of Mediachecker journalist Ninia Kakabadze in Tbilisi.
Kakabadze was detained on 3 November 2025 on administrative charges of "blocking the road" while covering a protest near Parliament. She said she was wearing a journalist's badge and was performing her professional duties when police stopped her and took her to a station. She was released shortly afterward.
At a court hearing on 4 November, the Interior Ministry claimed Kakabadze had remained on the roadway with protesters, a charge she denies. The Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics called for the case to be dropped.
The Platform described the case as part of a broader concern over media freedom in Georgia, citing recent legal amendments that toughen penalties for protest-related offences.
