The achieved result, when lives and health of our citizens and hostages are no longer in danger, was a primary task, – Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia said at Cabinet Meeting.

“The difficult situation in Zugdidi ended without casualties. It was a primary task. Finally, the achieved result, when the lives and health of our citizens and hostages are no longer in danger, was a primary task. Everyone should take into account that today the main task of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the law enforcement system is to arrest the perpetrator in the shortest possible time. It is the main task, and the operative-investigative activities are being carried. All the legal tools, rights, and opportunities that they have should be used to achieve this goal, so as not to give rise to a feeling of impunity in the perception of the perpetrators of such a crime”, – Giorgi Gakharia said.

The armed man broke into the branch office of the Bank of Georgia and took hostages in Zugdidi town of the Samegrelo region yesterday. By the end of the day, the attacker freed most of the hostages and left the bank building with three hostages, who were also released late at night. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, law enforcement officers continue intensive operative-investigative and search activities to arrest the offender.