UPDATED: Alex Petriashvili emerges from surgery in “satisfactory” condition, say doctors

Updated: 6.30pm

Alex Petriashvili has emerged from surgery in a "satisfactory” condition after he was shot three times about 1pm today.

Doctors said surgery on the Free Democrats political party leader and former cabinet Minister was successful and his current health condition was "satisfactory”.

Director General of the Republican Hospital Avtandil Imedadze confirmed Petriashvili suffered three gunshot wounds; two to his lower legs and one in his back which had lodged near his kidney.

Imedadze said doctors will observe Petriashvili for the next 24 hours and decide whether to leave the bullet in his back or cut it out, depending on his recovery and the necessity to remove the foreign object.

The two gunshot wounds to his legs were addressed during surgery, said the doctor.

Petriashvili’s wife Ekaterine Mishveladze told media she had no idea who would do this to her husband , and she did not know the motive behind the attack.

Georgia's Prime Minister commented on the assault, and said the offenders would be punished.

Earlier: 2.51pm

A Georgian politician and former cabinet minister is undergoing emergency surgery after being shot in capital Tbilisi about two hours ago.

Alex Petriashvili, one of the leaders of the opposition Free Democrats (FD) and Georgia’s ex-Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, was physically assaulted and shot several times by unidentified people while he visited a friend’s grave at a cemetery in Saburtalo.

A short time ago the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia released a statement saying Petriashvili was rushed to hospital after the incident but was now in a stable condition.

He received gunshot wounds to his lower legs and is currently being operated on at the Republican Hospital in Tbilisi. 

Interpressnews quoted FD members as saying it was an armed attack on Petriashvili, who was shot three times.

Several Saburtalo residents phoned the 112 emergency number when they heard the gun shots, said the Ministry.

Petriashvili was visiting the grave of his friend Levan Mikeladze at Saburtalo cemetery with three other people when he was shot.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has already launched an investigation for premeditated heavy health damage and is calling on all witnesses to cooperate with law enforcers.

Agenda.ge readers know Petriashvili quite well as he shared his opinions and emotions in several blogs about the milestones Georgia could reach.

Read the exclusive Agenda.ge blogs:  24/7 Friendship, Congratulations my European Georgians! and Newport? Yes, Newport that's it.