Free Democrats confident Petriashvili’s attackers will be found

Leader of the opposition Free Democrats party Irakli Alasania says he is extremely hopeful the unexplained shooting of his friend and fellow party member Alex Petriashvili will soon be solved.

After speaking with Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili yesterday, Alasania said he was confident law enforcers would find those responsible for the callous attack on Petriashvili.

"I had a direct communication with Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. I want to thank him for showing interest in Petriashvili’s condition and he promised us he would support us, be it with medical or any other resource,” said Alasania.

"In fact, a very encouraging conversation took place between us. Based on the information he has from the Interior Ministry, he said that the case would not remain unsolved.”

Petriashvili, an ex-cabinet minister and current secretary general of the Free Democrats political party, was shot three times on February 26 in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

About 1pm several people attacked Petriashvili, Georgia's ex-State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (2012-2014), as he visited the grave of his friend at the Saburtalo Pantheon Memorial Cemetery.

Doctors said he suffered three gunshot wounds, two in the lower legs and one in his back. He underwent three major surgeries, and doctors now described him as being in a "stable” condition. He remained in hospital for observation while he recovered further.

"Alex Petriashvili’s health condition is stable and this is the most important thing. Doctors are doing their best to save his life,” Alasania said.

Alasania also said "in the near future” Free Democrats would meet representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to learn latest information about their investigation into the incident.

Yesterday Georgia’s Parliament Speaker David Usupashvili assessed the shooting as "an absolutely disgusting offense”.

"I was serving a visit to Japan when I was informed about this terrible fact. Yesterday I returned and now I’m joining all the people who clearly and unambiguously believe that the offenders should be identified as soon as possible and punished to the full extent of the law,” Usupashvili said.

He added citizens should feel protected and this would only be achieved when offenders who commit such crimes are "severely punished”.