Animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili has been charged with making threats of murder.

The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia officially charged businessman and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili with making threats of murder or causing harm to health. He faces up to one year in prison under this article.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", entrepreneur and animal rights activist Tamaz Elizbarashvili declared a hunger strike in a detention center in Tbilisi, complaining of persecution by the authorities after a conflict with employees of a pro-government television channel. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia stated that a case against Elizbarashvili is being investigated for threats and illegal possession of weapons.

According to the investigation, on the evening of August 30, a conflict occurred between Elizbarashvili and a long-time opponent in one of the restaurants in Tbilisi: they got into a verbal altercation over past comments on social media. The businessman demanded that the company not leave the establishment, promising to return in half an hour and "not leave this matter just like that." Knowing that Elizbarashvili had a weapon, the opponents preferred to leave, Newsgeorgia reports.

Around midnight, Elizbarashvili returned to the restaurant. According to the agency, he was armed, kept his hand in his jacket pocket, ignored the security's prohibition, burst into the establishment, and continued to shout threats. Not finding his opponents, he left, but the next day published a video address on social media with new demands for apologies.

Elizbarashvili and his wife claimed that five people approached him in the restaurant, introducing themselves as employees of the pro-government television channel "Imedi." According to their version, Elizbarashvili was demanded to apologize for posts criticizing Russia and supporting Ukraine. After that, a video appeared on his page where the businessman threatened to find the participants of the scuffle "one by one."

On the evening of September 1, the police conducted a search at Elizbarashvili's home, his dog shelter, and his car. During these events, the businessman was detained administratively for disobeying the police.

The businessman’s lawyer, Iya Siranashvili, stated that during the searches, about 20 law enforcement officers used violence against her, knocked the phone out of her hands, and pushed her out of the apartment. The lawyer claims that in response to the violence, Elizbarashvili attempted to commit suicide, intending to jump from the balcony. In this regard, the Special Investigation Service began an investigation into possible abuse of power by the Ministry of Internal Affairs employees.

Another defender of Tamaz Elizbarashvili, who was present during the charges against the detained businessman, stated that his client disagrees with the accusation. The lawyer claims that Elizbarashvili's version is completely different from the circumstances indicated in the indictment, reports the Pirveli television company.

"The indictment states that the conflict and tension between them were caused by Tamaz Elizbarashvili's past activities on social media. The indictment does not mention that they had a personal conflict in the past. Mr. Tamaz left, leaving his wife and children at home, and returned to ask if they had any questions to avoid tension in the future," said lawyer Svimonishvili.