Police Arrest Man, Reportedly Cleric, for Attempted Murder

The Georgian Interior Ministry announced on April 27 that police have arrested a man in a town of Kareli in eastern Georgian region of Shida Kartli on charges of attempted murder and illegal purchase, possession and carrying of firearm.

According to the Interior Ministry, the detainee opened fire from “apparently an automatic firearm” at the vehicle of the victim, while the latter was driving the car on the road near the village of Rieti in Kareli Municipality, and went into hiding.

The Interior Ministry also noted that investigation has been launched under articles 19-108 and 236 of the criminal code of Georgia, involving attempted murder and illegal purchase, possession and carrying of firearm that is punished by imprisonment for a term from seven to 15 years.

Although the Interior Ministry did not identify the persons involved in the incident, media had reported earlier on April 22 that a confrontation took place between the clerics from the Eparchy of Ruis-Urbnisi of the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Civil.ge tried to reach out to the Interior Ministry, but it refused to unveil the details.

On April 27, Georgian media outlets reported that the confrontation took place between Davit Akiashvili (born as Koba Kobaidze) and Saba Zhgenti, the heads of two monasteries belonging to the Eparchy of Ruis-Urbnisi, on Easter night.

According to the same reports, following the confrontation, Davit Akiashvili ambushed Saba Zhgenti in the village of Khvedureti and opened fire at him. TV Pirveli reported that police immediately arrested Akiashvili following the shooting, but released him later.

The Eparchy of Ruis-Urbnisi refutes the rumors about any confrontation between the clerics as “a provocation”, saying that they learned about Akiashvili’s arrest from TV.

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia said that charges have already been brought against the detainee, adding that it would apply to the court to impose imprisonment as a measure of restraint within the timeframe set by law.

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