According to the lawyer, Russian citizens involved in an incident at a wedding in Telavi have been prohibited from leaving Georgia

Russian citizens involved in an incident at a hotel in Telavi have been prohibited from leaving the country for several days. The lawyer of the woman involved in the incident, Lali Aptsiauri, told InterpressNews.

According to Aptsiauri, the investigative authorities warned them not to leave the country.

“The Ukrainians are Russian citizens. One of the injured parties is also a Turkish citizen. Of course, they were questioned and gave statements, describing what happened. I will tell you briefly, because I, as well as these girls, have signed a non-disclosure agreement,” Aptsiauri said.

Asked whether she ruled out the possibility that legal proceedings could be launched against her client in the near future, given that detained Giorgi Chighladze has injuries to his neck, the lawyer said that this was not being discussed at this stage.

“I am a lawyer and I cannot rule this out in advance, but at this stage, we have not discussed this with the investigative body. First of all, it needs to be established who caused [the detainee’s] injuries, because in the footage that has been circulated, there is no indication that this girl touched him around the neck. He says, ‘She was strangling me.’ This girl weighs 60 kilograms, and I cannot tell you where the bear-like hands around his neck came from. Let an investigation begin; if the investigation establishes this, that is not a problem either,” Aptsiauri said.

Asked whether the Russian citizens had engaged in provocative behavior, verbal insults or damaged equipment, the lawyer also ruled this out.

“There were 120 people invited to this wedding. If such an incident took place and continued for a certain period of time, are we really supposed to believe that not even one person had a phone with a flashlight to record it?” Aptsiauri said.

As for the video footage in which wedding guests urge the Russian citizens to behave properly, the lawyer said that the video did not show who had initiated the incident.

“I can stand in front of a building and make so many calls [for people to behave] that you would not be able to count them. Why and who started all of this - why don't they have that [footage]? And what do these girls have to say in response? She stood below and held a rally, waving her hands. About what and for what reason? We should know, shouldn’t we?” the lawyer said.

Asked whether the Russian citizens had damaged equipment or poured liquid on it, she replied:

“Don't be surprised that I am laughing. Google this hotel and see what it looks like. What could you pour from there that would travel over two roofs and land on the equipment? Look at the picture and you will understand... There is one injured party - my client. Look at the picture; you can clearly see the balcony where these girls were standing and where the incident took place... There is footage of them insulting, arguing with and addressing the people below using obscene language,” Aptsiauri said.

Asked why the Russian citizens were being insulted if such footage existed, the lawyer replied that “they did not like the fact that they opened champagne.”

“They came to celebrate a birthday, opened champagne on the balcony, and all of this followed. They categorically deny any provocative behavior. They categorically deny, in particular, the actions they are accused of - spitting and pouring water. By the way, it was raining at that specific time,” the lawyer said.

Asked whether the rain had soaked the equipment, the lawyer replied that she “did not know.”

“I don't know; I am providing you with the information I have. Was the equipment damaged? Did an expert examination conclude that it was damaged? They should ask the owner of the equipment, who said, ‘It is not damaged now - it is playing - but it may break down in three days,’” Aptsiauri said.

Asked whether the police had been called to the scene, given that according to the hotel, the police were called before the physical confrontation began, the lawyer said that she “has not yet clarified this issue, as she arrived late.”

Asked whether the Russian citizens had been prohibited from leaving the country, the lawyer said they had been warned about this.

“They have been warned that they should not leave the country for several days, and they are not leaving...

Every person is responsible for their own crime. Whether it is my client or any other person who commits a crime, everyone will be held accountable,” Aptsiauri said.