Animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili has been arrested.
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The court in Tbilisi has arrested businessman and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili, accused of making threats of murder or causing harm to health.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", entrepreneur and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili declared a hunger strike in the isolation facility in Tbilisi after his detention, complaining of persecution by the authorities following a conflict with employees of a pro-government television channel. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia stated that a case is being investigated against Elizbarashvili for threats and illegal possession of weapons. On September 3, he was charged with making threats of murder or causing harm to health.
Tamaz Elizbarashvili is known as a Tbilisi businessman and owner of a shelter for stray dogs. During the flood in Tbilisi in June 2015, his shelter was affected by the disaster: about 80 dogs died, and 14 animals were saved. In 2016, the Tbilisi city hall fined Elizbarashvili 10,000 lari for the unauthorized installation of protective railings in the Vere Gorge. He explained that he installed the fencing due to the danger to people after the flood and the inaction of the authorities.
The Tbilisi City Court has kept Tamaz Elizbarashvili in custody, writes "Georgia-online" on September 4.
The defense requested to release the animal rights activist on bail of 20,000 lari or to leave him without any preventive measure until the end of the investigation, but the judge granted the prosecutor's request. The prosecution justified its demand by stating that Elizbarashvili might flee, exert pressure on witnesses, or commit a new crime. The defense rejected the investigation's version that Elizbarashvili returned to the restaurant with a weapon, stating that he did not have a pistol with him, and he was pressing his hand to his chest due to a deterioration in his health.
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