Prosecutor's Office Closes Investigation into Machalikashvili Case

The General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has closed the investigation into the high-profile Temirlan Machalikashvili case. The relevant statement was made at a briefing held today.

As the representative of the investigative agency explained, it had been confirmed that neither members of the Special Forces nor any senior official committed any unlawful acts regarding the case, so the investigation has been closed.

“As a result of the complete and thorough investigation, it was confirmed that the riot police officer acted in self-defense and for protecting others since the danger was real. It was also confirmed that neither any member of the special forces unit nor any senior official committed any unlawful act, accordingly, the investigation was closed," the Prosecutor’s Office said.

Within the framework of the investigation, 124 persons were interviewed as witnesses, dozens of investigation and procedural activities were conducted, and different types of forensic investigations were carried out.

“Family members, neighbors of Machalikashvili and all 32 employees of the Special Operations Department of the State Security Service were questioned, as well as investigators and all officials of the State Security Service, who have any information about the planning and carrying out of special operation conducted on December 26, 2017. The investigation has established that Temirlan Machalikashvili did not obey the order of a riot police officer to show him his hands and tried to activate the grenade. Due to this fact, the riot police officer was forced to shoot him,” the Agency said.

As the Agency noted, the hand-grenade was seized during the search of Machalikashvili’s room, and the process was also attended by his father, who had no objection to the hand-grenade. 

"Findings of biological examination of the hand-grenade proved that the reddish-brown spots on it is human blood and the major part of the mixed genetic profiles found on it is identical to Temirlan Machalikashvili's genetic profile,” the Prosecutor’s Office said.

19-year-old Temirlan Machalikashvili was wounded in the head during a special operation conducted in Pankisi Gorge on December 26, 2017. He died at the clinic on January 10. The family accused the State Security Service of deliberately killing the young man and demanded the punishment of the law enforcer that fired at him. The Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the case at the request of Machalikashvili's family.

By Ana Dumbadze