The News in Brief
Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
Giorgi Rurua Summoned as Witness in Ongoing Investigation
Giorgi Rurua, shareholder of the Mtavari Arkhi TV company, has been summoned by the State Security Service of Georgia (SSG) as a witness in an ongoing investigation. The investigation is reportedly focused on two charges - coup and violent overthrow of the state.
In response to the summons, Rurua criticized the charges, claiming the SSG had "got the address wrong." He pointed out, "The coup and overthrow of the state was carried out by the Russian Dream, led by one man. I sent him to Sololaki, will you remind me the address of this man? I think his name is Bidzina. And the last name starts with the letter I." Rurua also stressed that Georgia's future belongs with Europe, not Russia, stating, "Georgia will be a European country, not a Russian one."
The SSG confirmed that Rurua had been summoned as part of the ongoing investigation. However, the agency did not disclose specific details about the investigation. The case is being pursued under the first part of Article 315 and the first part of Article 323 of the Criminal Code, which relate to conspiracy and terrorism.
According to the SSG, Rurua refused to attend the interview and will likely be questioned in the presence of a judge. The agency also confirmed that multiple individuals have been questioned as part of the investigation.
Two Georgian Citizens Released from Russian Occupied Territories
On November 5, 2024, the State Security Service of Georgia (SSSG) announced that two Georgian citizens, Khajarat Akhvlediani and Giorgi Romelashvili, have been released and are now safe in territory controlled by the central government.
Akhvlediani had been illegally detained by Russian occupying forces near the village of Takhtisdziri in the Kareli municipality on February 28, 2024, while Romelashvili was allegedly detained near the occupied Tskhinvali region on May 25, 2024.
The SSSG stated that the release of Akhvlediani and Romelashvili was made possible through the active use of the "hotline" mechanism of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, as well as other tools available to the central government. The matter was discussed at meetings held within the framework of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) and during the Geneva International Discussions.
The SSSG emphasized that all responsibility for actions in the occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line rests with the occupying power. The agency also noted that the central government, in cooperation with international partners, continues to work toward the release of all Georgian citizens detained in the occupied territories.
Giorgi Rurua Summoned as Witness in Ongoing Investigation
In response to the summons, Rurua criticized the charges, claiming the SSG had "got the address wrong." He pointed out, "The coup and overthrow of the state was carried out by the Russian Dream, led by one man. I sent him to Sololaki, will you remind me the address of this man? I think his name is Bidzina. And the last name starts with the letter I." Rurua also stressed that Georgia's future belongs with Europe, not Russia, stating, "Georgia will be a European country, not a Russian one."
The SSG confirmed that Rurua had been summoned as part of the ongoing investigation. However, the agency did not disclose specific details about the investigation. The case is being pursued under the first part of Article 315 and the first part of Article 323 of the Criminal Code, which relate to conspiracy and terrorism.
According to the SSG, Rurua refused to attend the interview and will likely be questioned in the presence of a judge. The agency also confirmed that multiple individuals have been questioned as part of the investigation.
Two Georgian Citizens Released from Russian Occupied Territories
Akhvlediani had been illegally detained by Russian occupying forces near the village of Takhtisdziri in the Kareli municipality on February 28, 2024, while Romelashvili was allegedly detained near the occupied Tskhinvali region on May 25, 2024.
The SSSG stated that the release of Akhvlediani and Romelashvili was made possible through the active use of the "hotline" mechanism of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, as well as other tools available to the central government. The matter was discussed at meetings held within the framework of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) and during the Geneva International Discussions.
The SSSG emphasized that all responsibility for actions in the occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line rests with the occupying power. The agency also noted that the central government, in cooperation with international partners, continues to work toward the release of all Georgian citizens detained in the occupied territories.