Owning to high public interest Ministry of Internal Affairs would like to provide citizens with information on interim results of the ongoing investigation of the incident that took place on May 13 of the current year in “El Centro” night club between the General Auditor Lasha Tordia and the former General Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze.
On May 13, 2017, based on the information received at Old Tbilisi police division alleging that Lasha Tordia was physically abused at the night club “El Centro” by the unknown persons, thus investigation was launched under the article 126, part I of the Criminal Code.
All necessary investigative activities have been carried out within severe time constrains, in particular: all persons involved in the incident were interrogated as well as eye witnesses, important evidences have been extracted and different kinds of expertise held. The investigation has also extracted video footage depicting the incident.
According to the testimony given by Lasha Tordia, late at night on May 13 he was at “El Centro” night club along with his friends. Shortly after arriving at the club, Tordia decided to go to the bar area, situated inside the building, where he met Otar Partskhaladze accompanied by several people. During the meeting Otar Partskhaladze called Tordia aside to have a conversation during which Partskhaladze asked Tordia in an aggressive manner why he was gathering compromising information against him and how he planned to go on living after the end of his term. During the conversation they went towards terrace of the club and in that moment the conversation was intervened by Mikheil Chokheli, who was accompanying Patrskhaladze. Tordia got interested with the identity of Chokheli and in that moment he was subject to the physical assault from the left side, however he is not aware who hit him. The incident was followed by several more strikes to the direction of Tordia. Incident continued for a certain period of time after which persons involved in the incident fled from the scene. Tordia relates the incident to his job activities and notes that he was subject to the assault on this ground from the side of Partskhaladze.
Within the frames of investigation persons accompanying Tordia have been interrogated who provided investigation with the general information regarding the incident, however they were not able to give any details regarding the fact and are aware about the reasons of the incident only from Tordia’s point of view.
Otar Partskhaladze and his accompanying persons have also been interrogated who were at El Centro night club who provided investigation with the following testimony: on May 13 Otar Partskhaladze along with his spouse, friend - MIkheil Chokheli and members of the Security was at El centro night club.
Approximately at 02:00 they decided to leave the building and met Tordia at the exit door, who greeted them however the verbal confrontation took place owning to the form of greeting which continued on the terrace of the night club.
Mikheil Chokheli and Patrskhaladzes security approached the scene. During the disagreement Tordia became even more aggressive, he approached Partskhaladze and shouted that he should know how to greet him, in response to which Partskhaladze waved his hand with the words-“there’s nothing to Talk to you” and tried to turn away from Tordia. In that moment Tordia waved his hand towards him and slightly touched Partskhaladze in forehead area. Chokheli attempted to resist Tordia. Security guard also got involved in the incident who tried to force Tordia back from Patrskhaladze. Security members of the club also got involved in the incident which lasted not more than 10-20 minutes and then was dissolved. According to persons interrogated persons the incident was the attempt to involve certain persons in provocation.
Neutral witnesses questioned within the frames of investigation stated that Otar Partskhaladze and Lasha Tordia along with their accompanying persons and security guard met each other at the exit door of the club and discussed forms of greeting, however they were unable to provide investigation with further details. After the mentioned waved his hand and stoke Mikheil Chokheli. The physical confrontation continued at the exit door. Security guard of the club also got involved in the incident which was solved in a short period of time. After the mentioned Partskhaladze and his accompanying persons left the venue, while lasha Tordia stayed at the site. According to witnesses the confrontation lasted for several seconds.
None of the witnesses indicate in the case, including Lasha Tordia, that Otar Partskhaladze hit Tordia.
Video footage extracted by the law enforcers depicts the conversation between Patrskhaladze and Tordia which is attended by Mikheil Chikheli and security guard, how the argument evolves in the conflict which is dissolved in short period of time, namely in 20 seconds, after which Partskhaladze leaves the site with his accompanying persons, while Tordia stays in the club.
In order to define authenticity of the video footage, relevant expertise is scheduled to be held as well as expertise to define the level of the body injuries sustained by Lasha Tordia and Mikheil Chokheli. Within the frames of the investigation various investigative and procedural activities are being held, results of which will be made public later.
