Prime Minister: Shooting of ex-minister Alex Petriashvili is deplorable

Georgia’s Prime Minister is demanding an urgent investigation into today’s shooting of ex-cabinet Minister and opposition leader Alex Petriashvili.

The Administration of the Government of Georgia released a special statement shortly after the incident, in which Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said the assault on Petriashvili was deplorable and unacceptable.

The law enforcement agencies will spare no effort to investigate the case in the shortest time, to arrest the criminals and to ensure their appearance in court. We are extremely concerned by the incident and I would like to emphasise that the crime will not remain unpunished in our country”.

The attack took place about 1pm when Petriashvili, Georgia's ex-Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (2012-2014) and one of the leaders of the parliamentary opposition Free Democrats (FD) party, visited the grave of his friend and diplomat Levan Mikeladze at the Saburtalo Pantheon Memorial Cemetery, Tbilisi. 

Petriashvili was accompanied by three friends when several unidentified people physically assaulted and shot him, announced Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Petriashvili is currently undergoing surgery at the Republican Hospital. Doctors said he suffered three gunshot wounds, two in the lower legs and one in his back. He also sustained a head injury allegedly caused by a blunt object. 

The incident was reported to emergency services by a resident in a nearby building.

The Ministry confirmed an investigation has already begun to determine those responsible for the crime, while Prime Minister Kvirikashvili said  law enforcers would work non-stop to detain the offenders.

Alex Petriashvili is undergoing surgery at the Republican Hospital.

The Government Administration's statement said: "The Government of Georgia is shocked and sad to learn of the assault earlier today on Alexi Petriashvili, former State Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Georgia. 

The Government strongly condemns this and all acts of violence, and promises a swift and thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has launched an investigation into the shooting and urged anyone who may have relevant information to come forward and cooperate with the authorities. The investigation has been launched under provision 117 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, stipulating premeditated assault causing serious bodily harm.

Already several witnesses are being questioned by police. This afternoon police also summoned Petriashvili’s wife, famous Georgian journalist Ekaterine Mishveladze, for questioning.

Petriashvili took the post of Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration after the 2012 Parliamentary Elections and performed the role until November 2014. 

He quit the post after FD leader Irakli Alasania, who at the time was Georgia’s Defence Minister, was fired by Georgia’s former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.