Lawyer Lali Aptsiauri announced her intention to petition for bail on behalf of her client, Aleksi Akhvlediani, head of the Maritime Transport Agency. The Prosecutor’s Office has formally indicted Akhvlediani on charges of negligent firearm storage related to the case of Tornike Rizhvadze, former Chairman of the Adjara Government.

Aptsiauri stated that she has not yet determined the appropriate bail amount. Commenting on the case details, she revealed that Akhvlediani personally transported Tornike Rizhvadze to the hospital in his own vehicle for urgent medical assistance.

The lawyer emphasised that Akhvlediani had informed her that, upon realising the delayed response from the Public Security Management Centre 112, he decided to intervene himself. He also sought help from neighbours and local residents, recognising that every minute could be crucial to saving Rizhvadze’s life. She added that the victim and her client were friends who often visited each other.

Regarding the circumstances of the shooting, Aptsiauri could not specify Akhvlediani’s exact location at the time but suggested he was in another room or in a bathroom.

“At this stage, I will share my assumptions, which are not based on the case materials. The firearm was kept in Akhvlediani’s handbag in the living room; it could not have been in the bedroom where Tornike Rizhvadze was sleeping. We’re not guarding a handbag while sitting with friends, are we?” she remarked.

Aptsiauri also noted that she could not confirm who else was present in the house besides Akhvlediani and Rizhvadze but mentioned that, during her inspection of the scene, she observed no signs of a feast.

“Yesterday, I visited the scene of the incident, which remains intact, and there is no evidence of a feast. The incident took place in a residential building, specifically in the bedroom where Mr. Rizhvadze was resting,” she explained.

The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has formally indicted Aleksi Akhvlediani on charges of negligent firearm storage related to the case involving Tornike Rizhvadze.

Rizhvadze was hospitalised at Sagarejo Geohospital following a gunshot wound on July 7 and was later transferred to the First University Clinic for specialised care. An investigation into the incident has been initiated under Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, concerning incitement to suicide.