Tbilisi Prosecutor: Two to be charged in 2015 murder of Giorgi Kvaratskhelia

A criminal case has been opened into the premeditated murder of Giorgi Kvaratskhelia in 2015. Two individuals will be charged in connection with the case, Tbilisi Prosecutor Giorgi Mikaia announced.

“We would like to inform the public about the circumstances and facts established as a result of the recent intensive investigative activities conducted in the aforementioned criminal case.

The investigation conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, under the supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia, established that Davit Dekanosidze and Tornike Kacharava, due to a past disagreement with the latter’s brother, intended to take revenge on Giorgi Kvaratskhelia and murder him as part of a group.

On December 25, 2015, Tornike Kacharava, armed with an illegally acquired 7.65 mm firearm, and Davit Dekanosidze, armed with an illegally acquired 9 mm firearm, arrived at Giorgi Kvaratskhelia’s residential building at 3B Guram Panjikidze Street in Tbilisi. At approximately 20:36, while Giorgi Kvaratskhelia was in the yard, the defendants fired multiple shots in his direction. As a result, Giorgi Kvaratskhelia sustained a gunshot wound to the head, causing severe skull and brain injuries, and despite medical assistance, died at a medical facility.

The defendants, Tornike Kacharava and Davit Dekanosidze, will be charged under Article 109, Part 2, Subparagraph ‘e’ (old edition, premeditated murder committed by a group) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides for up to 17 years of imprisonment.

Tornike Kacharava will be charged in a penitentiary institution, while Davit Dekanosidze will be tried in absentia.

The Prosecutor’s Office will apply to the court within the time limit established by law with a motion to impose imprisonment as a preventive measure on the defendants. Davit Dekanosidze will be placed on the wanted list.

The investigation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is ongoing with the aim of identifying other individuals involved in the case,” said Tbilisi Prosecutor Giorgi Mikaia.