The Prosecutor’s Office says Tornike Rizhvadze fatally shot himself with a Glock that he secretly took from a gazebo near the home of his friend, Alexi Akhvelediani, during a visit to Sagarejo. The weapon had been negligently stored by Akhvelediani in an unsecured, glazed structure outside the residence. Rizhvadze brought the firearm into a guest bedroom and shot himself in the chest while alone.
As a result, Akhvelediani has been charged under Article 238 of Georgia’s Criminal Code for negligent storage of a firearm leading to grave consequences—a charge punishable by up to three years in prison. He was detained the same day, and the Prosecutor’s Office plans to seek a preventive measure in court.
Former Adjara government chairman Tornike Rizhvadze remains in a stably critical condition and is still on life support.
Image: IPN
Related story: Doctor: Tornike Rizhvadze’s condition stably critical, still on mechanical ventilation
