Mamuka Mdinaradze, one of the leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the government’s coordinator for law enforcement agencies, says another suspect has been detained in connection with the murder of teacher Giga Avaliani.
Speaking to journalists, Mdinaradze said the arrest followed “a week of intensive investigative activities.”
“As far as I know at this moment, the person who has been discussed over the past few days may already have been detained,” he said.
Avaliani’s family said they had not been informed about any new detention.
Five minors have already been convicted under various criminal charges in connection with the case.
The first verdict was delivered on April 5, when Judge Romeo Tkeshelashvili found Aleksandre Gabashvili and Giorgi Rikadze guilty. On April 8, both were sentenced to 14 years in prison, later reduced by one quarter under Georgia’s Juvenile Justice Code, leaving each to serve 10 years and six months.
On June 1, another minor was sentenced to four years in prison for giving false testimony. The sentence was also reduced by one quarter, resulting in a final prison term of three years.
On June 2, Demetre Chikovani was sentenced to 13 years in prison for participating in the premeditated group infliction of grievous bodily harm against Avaliani, while Ani Naskidashvili received a seven-year sentence for concealing prior knowledge of the planned crime. Under the Juvenile Justice Code, both sentences were reduced by one quarter, meaning Chikovani will serve nine years and nine months, while Naskidashvili will serve five years and three months.
Twenty-eight-year-old teacher Giga Avaliani was attacked by a group of minors on October 1, 2025, in the Temka district of Tbilisi while walking home from work. He died in hospital on October 24 without having regained consciousness.
