Brother of Badri Esebua, the Zugdidi bank robber who took hostages and escaped with half a million USD, was detained yesterday for the illegal purchase and possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Georgian Interior Ministry has reported that Bidzina Esebua was detained in the western Georgian region of Samegrelo yesterday.
Reportedly, Bidizna Esebua had communication with his brother in exile and planned to hand him over the firearms and ammunition.
Upon detention he was found in possession of two hand grenades, sleeping bag, food and clothes.
Police received a call about an armed attacker on the bank of Georgia located at Zviad Gamsakhurdia Avenue in Zugdidi at 14:21 on October 21, who initially took 43 people hostage.
The Interior Ministry began ‘long and complicated negotiations’ with the attacker which ended in the release of most of the hostages.
Late at night the attacker left the building with the head of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti police chief Avtandil Galdava and three hostages. However, he eventfully released the remaining hostages and escaped with half a million USD.
The search operation to detain the attacker has been underway since then.