The lawyer of Aleksi Akhvlediani, former head of Georgia’s Maritime Transport Agency, says a forensic report confirms that a key letter in the case was written by Tornike Rizhvadze, the former chairman of the Ajara government.
Attorney Lali Aptsiauri says the calligraphic examination conducted by the Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau established Rizhvadze’s authorship of the letter, which had been removed from his jacket. She said the report, received several days ago, will be presented in court as grounds to dismiss the case.
“The expert report confirms that the letter was written by Mr. Rizhvadze, which is important. We are requesting dismissal of the case. Mr. Rizhvadze has not been questioned so far, as his condition has prevented investigators from doing so,” Aptsiauri stated.
The Prosecutor’s Office has charged Akhvlediani under Article 238 of the Criminal Code for negligent storage of a firearm leading to serious consequences, an offense punishable by up to three years in prison. He was earlier released on bail of 30,000 GEL.
Tornike Rizhvadze, the former head of Georgia’s Adjara Autonomous Republic, was hospitalized on July 7, 2025, with a gunshot wound to the chest. The incident occurred at the residence of Aleksi Akhvlediani, head of the Georgian Maritime Transport Agency, in Sagarejo, a town in the eastern Kakheti region. Authorities initially reported the event as a suicide attempt. Rizhvadze was later transferred to a clinic in Istanbul for specialized treatment.
In the wake of the incident, a forensic examination was conducted on a letter found in Rizhvadze’s possession. The Levan Samkharauli National Forensic Bureau confirmed that the handwriting matched Rizhvadze’s, lending credence to the earlier reports. The letter allegedly contained personal grievances, including accusations of corruption and appeals for protection for his family.
The Prosecutor’s Office has charged Akhvlediani under Article 238 of the Criminal Code of Georgia for the negligent storage of a firearm leading to serious consequences. The investigation is ongoing under Article 115, which pertains to incitement to suicide.
Rizhvadze resigned from his position in April 2025, citing a desire for change after seven years in office. His resignation was followed by several other officials in the region. The circumstances surrounding his hospitalization have sparked public debate and scrutiny, with some questioning the official narrative.
The investigation into the incident continues, with authorities examining all available evidence to determine the full extent of the events leading up to Rizhvadze’s hospitalization.
