State Security Service: ‘irresponsible statements’ damage probe into planned murder against Georgian journalist

The State Security Service of Georgia has announced earlier today that an investigation into the planned murder of journalist Giorgi Gabunia is underway.

Dissemination of any information, whether it is true or false, may damage the major public interest - to establish the objective truth, expose every individual involved in the crime and bring them to justice’, it stated.

The Security Service also noted that while providing information about the detention of Russian citizen of Ingush origin Vasambeg Bokov in its previous statement, it urged media outlets to refrain from spreading ‘incorrect or inaccurate information’. 

However, it said, some media outlets are making 'irresponsible statements' which are not based on factual circumstances and raise more concern, damaging the interest of the investigation.

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Calling the case ‘very complex’, the Security Service added as well that every next step of the investigation is being planned in such a way to ensure that 'none of the versions and factual circumstances are left beyond due attention’.

We once again call on everybody to refrain from public discussions of circumstances of the criminal case, in order to ensure that investigative process, which is underway in an intensive manner, is not hampered’, the statement reads.

Vasambeg Bokov was detained in Tbilisi last Friday for the illegal purchase and possession of fake documents, but director of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Nika Gvaramia claimed the former was plotting a murder of journalist Giorgi Gabunia.

Gvaramia claimed that the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, placed the hit on the journalist who worked for the opposition-minded TV channel Rustavi 2 when he publicly insulted Russian President Vladimir Putin over a year ago. 

• Russian citizen detained in Tbilisi, TV channel head claims Kadyrov placed hit on journalist who insulted Putin

Calling the accusations ‘stupid,’ Kadyrov said Gabunia must ask for forgiveness as he has insulted 'the Russian nation', not only its president and urged the Georgian government to take measures which will help ‘re-educate; him.