One Dead after Break-In Attempt at Military Training Center

TBILISI – Georgia’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) state that one person was killed after three people tried to break into the Military Education and Training Support Center Krtsanisi on Sunday.

The Ministry reported that the person shot was identified as Giga Shengelia, 23, from Zugdidi, West Georgia. The alleged intruder’s ties with the military service have yet to be revealed. 

According to the MoD, three persons tried to break into the Military Center at the Krtsanisi settlement, outside Georgia’s capital Tbilisi at about 3.30pm on October 23.

“They did not obey the verbal warning of the watchman and attacked him, after which the watchman carried out actions against the invasion within the law,” the Ministry explains.

As reported by the Head of the Military Police Main Investigative Department, Zurab Kukhianidze, the guard that shot the attacker has already been questioned. 

“The watchman says that he shot into the air several times before shooting at the intruders,” he said.

The MoD says that after being shot, the attackers climbed over the wire fence and disappeared. Later, the Military Police found the body of Giga Shengelia. They also discovered a mobile phone, pistol, 5 bullets of AK-74 type assault rifle and a flashlight.

The family members and relatives of the deceased deny he had a gun or attacked the military center. They claim that his brother used to serve in the Krtsanisi base and sugesting the alleged intruders had perhaps gone to the base to see their friends.

The United States Ambassador to Georgia, Ian Kelly, said of the incident: “This is a very concerning fact and we will work with the Georgian side to investigate the details."

An investigation was launched into the case for negligence resulting in death. The investigation is being carried out by the Military Police under supervision of the country’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office. The investigators are working to identify the other two intruders.

By Thea Morrison