Man charged with shooting at Bassiani nightclub in Tbilisi sent to pretrial detention

Bidzina Chachkhiani, who is charged with attempted premeditated murder at Bassiani nightclub in Tbilisi last week and the illegal possession of firearms, has been sent to pretrial detention by Tbilisi City Court earlier today. 

Chachkhiani said he was not trying to go on the run after allegedly shooting three individuals at the nightclub. 

I was going to hunt and I was with my dog,” Chachkhiani has stated, with prosecutor responding that “3 am is too late to hunt on Abashidze Street (in central Tbilisi).” 

Chachkhiani was asking for bail, saying "I am not a threat to anyone." 

The Interior Ministry says that Chachkhiani shot 15 times at the nightclub on January 12 after a dispute with a DJ in the club. 

The prosecution says that he went home and brought the firearm to commit the offence.