Russian and Ukrainian men accused of Georgian businessman’s murder

A Russian and a Ukrainian men have been charged with the murder of Georgian businessman Besarion (Besik) Khardziani, announced the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia today.

An investigation into the death of the prominent Georgian businessman opened shortly after his death of March 28, 2015 however today the first details of the investigation were revealed by the Office in a special statement.

Ukrainian citizen Alexander Dametov, 31, and Russian citizen Oleg Doev, 43, were named as the alleged offenders. Dametov has been charged for the premeditated murder and illegal purchase and carrying of firearm while Doev is facing a charge for the support in the alleged crime. 

Khardziani was shot and killed near his home in capital Tbilisi on March 28, 2015. 

In today’s statement the Prosecutor’s Office said Dametov and Doev arrived in Georgia on January 13, 2015 and rented a flat in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. From the time the accused watched their victim to determine his daily schedule.

The Prosecutor’s Office said on March 28, 2015, mounted on a moped with a helmet covering his face, Dametov shot Khartsiani three times and fled the scene. 

Later that day the two men left Georgia via the western Sarpi checkpoint to Turkey. 

The official investigation revealed Dametov travelled to Georgia and left the country using a fake passport. 

During the investigation a range of activities had been carried out, tens of witnesses had been questioned and a vast amount of evidence had been collected, said the Prosecutor’s Office.

Law enforcers also found the gun Dametov used to kill Khardziani, which he threw into the Mtkvari River after allegedly committing the crime. 

The two men are currently abroad but are wanted in Georgia. The investigation is still open as the motive for the crime remained unclear, said the Prosecutor’s Office.

Khardziani, the owner of property at Tbilisi’s popular recreational zone Kus Tba (Turtle Lake), died of gunshot wounds in hospital several hours after the shooting. He was among a group of entrepreneurs who claimed their properties had been illegally seized by the country’s previous government.