Prepared by Messenger Staff
Kavelashvili Attends Khamenei's Funeral in Tehran, Meets Pezeshkian
Georgian Dream President Mikheil Kavelashvili traveled to Tehran to attend the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 3 as part of the visit. A video released from Tehran showed Kavelashvili paying his respects during a ceremony where Khamenei lay in state.
"As part of my Tehran visit, I attended the funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei together with leaders from various countries of the region and the world," Kavelashvili said in a statement on July 3. He added that during his meeting with Pezeshkian, he "once again extended condolences over the tragic events that took place in Iran and paid respect to the memory of the deceased."
Kavelashvili said he told Pezeshkian that Georgia "supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace, stability, and de-escalation in the region," and thanked him for backing Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He described Tbilisi-Tehran relations as being "based on respect and consideration of national interests."
"I am confident that cooperation based on good neighborly relations will continue to promote the development of relations between our countries and a stable and peaceful future for our region," he said.
Court Orders Pre-Trial Detention for Malania's Son in Teacher's Murder Case
A Tbilisi court has ordered pre-trial detention for Giorgi Malania, son of former Deputy Interior Minister Merab Malania, in the case of murdered teacher Giga Avaliani. Prosecutor Ketevan Sonidze said the case against him only came together recently. "Nine months ago, Giorgi Malania's name was not even mentioned in the Giga Avaliani case. There was no evidence against him," she told journalists.
Sonidze said the prosecution cited risks that Malania might flee, tamper with evidence, or interfere with the investigation as additional suspects are identified. She noted he had been moving around Lanchkhuti with a backpack in a way that suggested he was preparing to hide.
Malania is the eighth person held accountable in the case, following final decisions against seven others. He has been charged with aiding and abetting serious bodily injury by a group, which carries up to 13 years in prison. Prosecutors say Malania, a former student of Avaliani's, helped Aleksandre Gabashvili, Giorgi Rikadze, and Demetre Chikovani track Avaliani's routine and plan the attack that killed him on October 24, 2025. The three have already been convicted.
Sonidze added that an international request for information has been sent to Meta, and the investigation could still lead to further findings involving other individuals.
