Police Detains Brother of Man Accused of Attacking Bank of Georgia in Zugdidi

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia has detained Bidzina Esebua, the brother of Badri Esebua, who is accused of attacking the Bank of Georgia branch in Zugdidi, a town in the Samegrelo region. 

Badri Esebua is currently wanted. His whereabouts are still unknown to the police. 

The MIA said his brother was detained for illegal purchase-keeping and carrying of a firearm, ammunition, explosive materials and device. Police believe he has been in contact with his brother, who is wanted by police, and was planning to hand over these items to him. 

The investigative agency has released the following statement regarding the detention: 

"The officers of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a result of operative-investigative activities detained the brother of currently wanted Badri Esebua - B.E. (DoB 1982). Detention took place in one of the villages of Zugdidi municipality. B.E. was detained for illegal purchase-keeping and carrying of a firearm, ammunition, explosive materials and device. Committed crime envisages from 4 to 7 years of imprisonment.

"On the basis of the operative information and considering that B.E. supposedly had contacts with his brother who was wanted by police and was planning to hand over various items to him, police conducted operative-search measures against the mentioned person as well as visual control activities. During the operation, B.E. attempted to flee from the place of crime, however, was detained by police.

"As a result of the search activities held in detainee’s BMW- made vehicle, police seized 2 hand grenades, magazines for the automatic weapon, sleeping bag, food products and clothes.
The investigation is in progress on the fact of illegal purchase-keeping and carrying of a firearm, ammunition, explosive materials and device, crime envisaged under article 236 of the Criminal Code of Georgia." 

For the record, on October 21, the former military man Badri Esabua broke into the building of a Bank of Georgia branch in Zugdidi and took 19 persons hostage. He demanded half a million dollars in cash, an unarmed negotiator from the authorities and security guarantees; otherwise, he would kill the hostages. 

During the day, the attacker gradually released the majority of hostages. All of his demands were satisfied and he drove away in a car with three remaining captives. Nobody was hurt.

Interior Minister Vakhtang Gomelauri told reporters that the attacker's demands were fulfilled because “for our government and for me, the people’s lives are the most important.”

Presently, police are still searching for the attacker. 

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By Ana Dumbadze