TV channel Imedi has published the contents of a letter reportedly written by former Adjara Government Chairman Tornike Rizhvadze prior to his alleged suicide attempt. Imedi reports that the letter was obtained exclusively by its program Qronika.
In the letter, Rizhvadze claims he is being falsely accused of corruption and protecting drug dealers—charges he says go against the values he and his father upheld throughout their lives. He expresses exhaustion from both victories and failures and asks for forgiveness from his family, the Patriarch, and close friends.
“Aleko has nothing to do with it… He is an example of brotherhood,” the letter reads. “I’m being accused of things I’ve fought against all my life. I’m tired… I ask forgiveness from my family, from the Patriarch. Father, you will always be the number one man for me in dignity.”
Rizhvadze also leaves personal messages to his loved ones, urges others not to blame anyone, and says he takes full responsibility: “My friends, colleagues, family members — everyone acted on my orders… I take full responsibility with my life.”
This morning, the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that Rizhvadze had been admitted to Sagarejo GeoHospitals with a gunshot wound to the chest. Doctors say he suffered lung damage and is in critically stable condition. He has since been transferred to the First University Clinic in Tbilisi.
Aleksi Akhvlediani, Head of the Maritime Transport Agency, has been detained in connection with the case for the negligent storage of a firearm.
