Childhood Friend of Bachana Akhalaia Questioned at His trial

Salome Chkheidze

Akhalaia’s childhood friend Giorgi Akhalaia was questioned at the trial in the episode of Businessman Zviad Abesadze. Giorgi Akhalaia denied the information about assaulting Abesadze in the restaurant Maspindzelo.

According to this episode, Bachana Akhalaia, Gigi Kalandadze and Gaga Mkurnalidze physically assaulted and restricted freedom of businessman Zviad Abesadze. According to the investigation, on September 13, 2011, a stranger called Zviad Abesadze late at night and insulted him. In reply to that, Abesadze sent sms with sear to the stranger and then switched off the phone. Soon, his friend Grigol Bakuradze arrived at Abesadze’s house and told Bacho Akhalaia was calling him to the restaurant.

Abesadze found Bachana Akhalaia, Gigi Kalandadze, Giorgi Akhalaia and several other people in the restaurant. Akhalaia told Abesadze that he had sworn Gigi Kalandadze in his message. Afterwards, security officers caught Abesadze and Gigi Kalandadze beat him. According to the prosecutor’s office, Bachana Akhalaia ordered Gaga Mkurnalidze to take Abesadze to a flat in Mukhiani settlement; the businessman spent one day there with two armed people. Next day, Mkurnalidze let him go but made promise that he would not inform anybody about the incident.

Giorgi Akhalaia, friend of Akhalaia and former employee of the Defense Ministry, said that on September 13, 2011 he was in the restaurant Maspindzelo together with Bacho Akhalaia, Gigi Kalandadze and other people.

“It was ordinary dinner. It was about 8-9:00 am. The minister used to work at night and go to have dinner after he had finished work. Some time later Zviad Abesadze came together with Grigol Bakuradze, greeted us and joined our dinner.”

The witness said nobody had insulted or abused Abesadze in the restaurant. He said that about 20 minutes later Akhalaia, Kalandadze and he left restaurant whilst Abesadze and some other people stayed in the restaurant.