The court in Tbilisi recognized the arrest of Elizbarashvili as lawful.

The appellate court in Tbilisi upheld the decision to arrest entrepreneur and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili, who faced persecution after a conflict with employees of a pro-government television channel.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", entrepreneur and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili was detained on September 1. He reported persecution by the authorities after a conflict with employees of a pro-government television channel. On September 3, Elizbarashvili was charged with making threats of murder or causing harm to health, and on September 4, the Tbilisi City Court sent him to custody.

The Tbilisi appellate court kept Tamaz Elizbarashvili in custody, reports "InterpressNews".

As lawyer Iya Siranashvili stated, the defense previously appealed the Tbilisi City Court's decision to arrest the businessman, but the appellate court deemed the appeal inadmissible, according to the publication.

The decision of the appellate court was made today. Under part 1 of article 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia (threat of murder or causing harm to health), the 60-year-old entrepreneur faces up to one year in prison, writes "News of Georgia".

Recall that, according to the investigation, on August 30, a conflict occurred between Elizbarashvili and a long-time opponent in a restaurant: he entered into a verbal dispute with him over past comments on social media. The businessman promised to return in half an hour and "not leave this matter just like that." Knowing that Elizbarashvili had a weapon, the opponent and his companions left. Around midnight, Elizbarashvili returned to the restaurant, ignored the security's ban, and continued to shout threats. Not finding his opponents, he left. The defense rejected the investigation's version that Elizbarashvili returned to the restaurant with a weapon.

Tamaz Elizbarashvili is known as a businessman and the 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 city hall fined Elizbarashvili for the unauthorized installation of protective railings in the Vere Gorge. He explained that he installed the fence due to the danger to people after the flood and the inaction of the authorities.