Police have carried out more than 450 investigative activities in death case of 19-year-old footballer Shakarashvili

Over 450 investigative and procedural activities have been carried out in the case of the death of 19-year-old footballer Giorgi Shakarashvili, reports the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Deputy Interior Minister Vladimer Botsvadze has mentioned earlier today that 93 individuals have been interrogated in the high-profile case.

121 search and seizure activities have been carried out, as a result of which 105 computers, mobile phones and photo-camera have been seized. Also, for the purpose of the forensic research, clothes and shoes have been seized from 40 individuals, including the accused persons and other individuals related to the death case of Shakarashvili. A total of 41 DNA and dactyloscopic (fingerprint identification) specimens were taken from accused individuals and those involved in the case”, said Botsvadze.

Botsvadze also mentioned that information has already been requested from mobile operators to determine locations and connections of dozens of individuals related to the case.

Lawyers of several individuals said that one of the main witnesses of the case, Vakho Akhvlediani, with whom Shakarashvili communicated on the day of the incident, gave false testimony to the police. Akhvlediani said that he left the scene of the incident at 1:00 am, though, law enforcers have found that he left the area at 2:00 am.

Akhvlediani’s lawyer Mzia Qasrashvili told the media that she has no information regarding the issue.

The area where the main witness in the case, Guri Amirkhanashvili, was hiding on the night of the incident, was burnt down several days ago.

The area where the 'golden witness' of the case was hiding on the night of the incident, was burnt down several days ago. Photo: Mtavari Channel.

Amirkahanashvili’s lawyer Giorgi Gelkhauri said that he inspected the area on July 5.

There could have been traces of DNA. I don’t know whether it happened intentionally or unintentionally. This fact raises questions about the quality of the investigation”, said Gelkhauri.

Responding to the issue, the Deputy Interior Minister Vladimer Botsvadze  has stated today that an investigation has been launched to determine whether the place Amirkahnashvili was hiding was burnt intentionally or due to negligence.

Shakarashvili’s body was found in the river Aragvi after a four-day search, on June 22.

Shakarashvili went missing while at a friend’s birthday party in Mtskheta, a town outside of Tbilisi, early on June 19.  

The case has several witnesses, including a photographer, who told police that a brawl took place at the party, however Shakarashvili was not involved in the incident.

17 individuals have been detained in the case of the death of the 19-year footballer.