Person responsible for hostage-taking and attempted robbery of Bank of Georgia to remain in pre-trial detention
By Veronika Malinboym
Monday, April 19
The man who, on Friday, April 16, attacked the Bank of Georgia branch near the Avlabari metro was sentenced to remain in pre-trial detention, as per the Tbilisi City Court ruling. The defense of the accused reportedly requested a bail of 30,000 Lari, however, its motion was denied.
On Friday, 28-year old man named Nikoloz Tsurtsumia broke into the Bank of Georgia near Avalabari metro and took seven people hostage. As a result of negotiations carried out by the Ministry of Interior employees, an hour later all hostages were released, and the attacker was arrested.
In its official press release, the Ministry of Interior states that Tsurtsumia will be charged for the possession of the firearm and hostage-taking:
“The Ministry of Internal Affairs detained one person - N.Ts. (DoB 1993) - for attacking one of the branches of the Bank of Georgia located in vicinities of Avlabari metro station, Tbilisi as well as for taking hostages and illegal possession and carrying of a firearm.
The investigation established that the armed offender broke into one of the branches of the Bank of Georgia located on Dusheti Street, Tbilisi and took 7 people as hostages.
Relevant police units were mobilized at the scene and operative-investigative measures have been launched.
As a result of negotiations between the representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the attacker, the accused person gradually released citizens from illegal captivity, after which the law enforcers arrested N.Ts. at the place of crime. In the course of the incident no one was injured.
Investigation is in progress on the fact of the attack, hostage-taking and illegal possession - carrying of a firearm- crimes envisaged under articles 144, Part II, Subparagraph C and 236, Part III and IV of the Criminal Code of Georgia”, read the official statement.
