Gakharia For Georgia party says the investigation into the attack on Giorgi Gakharia at the Sheraton Hotel has been transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office.
The party claims that the Prosecutor’s Office today “fully seized the video footage of the incident from the Sheraton, including the servers. The hotel no longer has a copy of the recording.”
As the party’s statement reads, “all this indicates coordinated actions by the investigation and Sheraton, the purpose of which is to destroy evidence.”
“Since the organized attack on Giorgi Gakharia, Sheraton Batumi has refused to provide video footage, which we have the right to see. The Sheraton management assured us that the recordings existed and that a copy would definitely be kept with them even when the investigation removed the recordings by ruling.
“Yesterday, we offered the Ministry of Internal Affairs the chance to interrogate Giorgi Gakharia. It took exactly three hours to get a reply. After three hours, we learned that the case had been transferred to the Prosecutor’s Office for investigation. Yesterday, communication was made with the prosecutor, with whom the readiness for interrogation was expressed. After that, the Prosecutor’s Office has been inaccessible.
“A few minutes ago, we learned from Sheraton that the the Prosecutor’s Office today fully seized the video footage of the incident from the Sheraton, including the servers. The hard drives have also been seized and the hotel no longer has a copy of the recording.
“All this indicates coordinated actions by the investigation and Sheraton, the purpose of which is to destroy evidence. According to the information we have, Sheraton was an active accomplice in the crime. In addition, this puts the personal information of users on the servers at great risk,” the reads the statement.
The Sheraton Batumi Hotel has been embroiled in a scandal following the attacks on opposition leader, ex-PM Giorgi Gakharia and NGO sector representative Zviad Koridze. There are numerous complaints and concerns regarding the hotel, pointing out that the high-class hotel, which belongs to the Marriot brand, is unable to provide guest safety or ensure transparency when such incidents occur.
Giorgi Gakharia and Zviad Koridze were attacked and physically assaulted in Batumi by Georgian Dream “deputy” Dito Samkharadze, along with his associates. The attack took place at the Sheraton Hotel. Gakharia was taken to the clinic with a fractured nasal bone and a concussion. He left the clinic of his own accord. An investigation has been launched under the article “Violence.”
