Giorgi Chighladze: I will fight and defend our dignity to the very end – I am sorry that the woman was injured, but I did not intend this

“I am sorry that this woman was injured, but I did not intend this. Any person can pay a high price even for an unintentional act committed during a conflict,” Giorgi Chighladze, who was detained over an incident that occurred during a wedding in Telavi, said in a letter released by his lawyer, Mariam Durglishvili.

Giorgi Chighladze thanked everyone for their support and stated: “I will fight and defend our dignity to the very end.”

“I, Giorgi Chighladze, am currently being held at the Gurjaani Pre-Trial Detention Facility. My lawyers, Mariam Durglishvili and Lasha Kapanadze, are providing me with all the information. Thank you for standing by me. I will fight and defend our dignity to the very end.

I am sorry that this woman was injured, but I did not intend this. Any person can pay a high price even for an unintentional act committed during a conflict. Therefore, I ask and urge everyone: try not to fall for provocations and do not act in a moment of anger caused by an insult,” Chighladze’s letter reads.

For reference, law enforcement officers detained Giorgi Chighladze over an incident that occurred in Telavi. An investigation was launched against him under Article 120 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the intentional infliction of minor bodily injury. The offense carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.

During a wedding at a hotel in Telavi, foreign nationals staying at the hotel allegedly insulted people attending the wedding from the balcony of their hotel room and poured water on the equipment, after which the defendant physically assaulted a female foreign national. The injured woman was taken to a clinic to receive appropriate medical assistance.

Administrative proceedings have also been launched against singer Aleksandre Mrelashvili.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Mrelashvili was being questioned as a witness at a police station in connection with the incident at the wedding. During the questioning, he refused to remain at the station for an extended period, after which he verbally insulted police officers and damaged a locker used for storing belongings.