Kremlin: Russia plotting murder of Georgian journalist ‘absurd’

The Russian government’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says that allegations about plotting the murder of well-known Georgian journalist for insulting Putin is absurd. 

We have heard allegations (which claim) as if Russia was involved in the incident which is a lie and absurd,” Peskov said. 

 Russian citizen of Ingush origin Vasambeg Bokov was detained in Tbilisi on Friday for the illegal purchase and possession of fake documents. 

Head of opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Nika Gvaramia said that the man was plotting to murder journalist Giorgi Gabunia for insulting Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.

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Gvaramia claims that the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, placed the hit on the journalist.

The investigation is ongoing. 

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and President Salome Zurabishvili have thanked the State Security Service for preventing a ‘very serious crime’ allegedly against well-known Georgian journalist Giorgi Gabunia which could have sparked tension and provocations in the country. 

Kadyrov has called the accusations ‘stupid,’ saying that when he ‘orders something, it is always done.’