Prosecutor's Office Charges 5 with Premeditated Murder of Young Footballer

The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has aggravated the charges against 5 persons accused in the death of a 19-year-old footballer Giorgi Shakarashvili, whose body was found in the Aragvi River in the vicinity of Mtskheta on June 22 following a 4-day search. 

The investigative agency has launched a criminal prosecution against 5 passengers of the 'Toyota Camry' type vehicle for the crime under Article 109, Part 2, Subparagraph "e", which stipulates premeditated murder committed in a group.

As it was announced at the briefing held at the Prosecutor's Office today, the charges were aggravated against Vakhtang Chikovani, Archil Gagnidze, Nikoloz Revazishvili, juveniles A.K. and Z.Kh.

The investigation has established that the mentioned persons followed a young footballer and his accomplices who fled to the Aragvi River to avoid violence, captured and physically assaulted Shakarashvili, while others managed to hide from the attackers, after which severely beaten footballer was thrown in the river, where he died of asphyxia. 

The above-mentioned crime envisages from 13 to 17 years of imprisonment. 

12 other persons are put criminally responsible for the same case on charges of the organization of violence in a group that envisages prison term from 4 to 10 years.

The conclusion of the first examination states that Giorgi Shakarashvili had up to 12 injuries on his body inflicted by the use of a blunt item shortly before his death.

He was killed following a conflict that began at a birthday party in Mtskheta town on June 18. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

Image: Giorgi Shakarashvili

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