The lawyer representing Giorgi Chighladze, who was arrested following an altercation at a hotel during a wedding reception in Telavi, has released his client’s account of the incident, claiming Chighladze was the victim of a “Russian provocation” and was himself injured during the confrontation.
In a statement posted on social media, lawyer Lasha Kapanadze said the incident took place on July 18 at the “Agaranis Mamuli” hotel in the village of Ruispiri, where guests were celebrating a wedding on the hotel’s ground-floor veranda.
Lawyer says Russian-speaking guests staying on the third floor began shouting “Gorka” – a traditional Russian chant encouraging newlyweds to kiss. He claims that after the wedding guests ignored the chants, the tourists became agitated and started pouring liquids and spitting from the third floor toward the wedding party. The statement alleges that liquid was also poured onto the sound equipment, causing it to malfunction and interrupting the music.
Kapanadze said a verbal confrontation followed, during which the third-floor guests allegedly insulted those attending the wedding, referred to Georgia as “a country of Papuans,” and swore at them in Russian. Although the hotel administration promised to intervene, the lawyer claims the harassment resumed 10–15 minutes later, prompting the singer to stop performing and leave the venue.
The Defense says Chighladze, who is the groom’s brother, then went to the third floor to speak with those involved. Kapanadze said Chighladze told one of the women in English that they had effectively ruined his brother’s wedding. The lawyer claims the woman demanded that he speak Russian, while Chighladze replied that she was in Georgia and should communicate either in Georgian or English.
The statement alleges that the woman then grabbed Chighladze by the throat, causing visible injuries. Kapanadze said Chighladze pushed her away and the verbal confrontation continued before the woman allegedly struck him again. Lawyer says Chighladze responded by swinging his arm in self-defense, hitting the woman in the face with his elbow, causing her to fall. He then left the room to prevent the confrontation from escalating.
Kapanadze claimed the Russian-speaking tourists “could not tolerate the Georgian wedding and Georgian songs” and staged a provocation, adding that they appeared to be under the influence of an unidentified substance.
The lawyer said Chighladze was initially taken to the Telavi District Police Department as a witness on July 18. He added that an ambulance was called to document injuries to Chighladze’s neck and that the defense has requested a forensic medical examination. Kapanadze says Chighladze was arrested on July 19 and is currently being held in the Gurjaani temporary detention facility while awaiting formal charges. The defense said it will provide further information as the case progresses.
Earlier, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs said officers from the Kakheti Police Department arrested one person on charges of intentional minor bodily injury.
Ministry says the investigation, based on witness testimony, found that foreign nationals staying at the hotel insulted wedding guests from a hotel balcony and poured water onto the event’s sound equipment. Police say that afterward, the suspect physically assaulted a foreign female citizen, who was taken to a medical facility for treatment.
The investigation is being conducted under Article 120 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison.
Related story: Interior Ministry launches administrative proceedings against Telavi wedding singer
