Journalist Eliso Kiladze Says Warning Shot Was Fired at Her

“My friend, who is always with me, and I got out of the car. Immediately, a suspicious person stood next to us, watched us both very carefully, then crossed the road and moved to the other side. I entered the cabin, and about 15 minutes later, a shot was fired at my friend who was standing outside waiting for me. According to initial reports, they were shot from a hunting rifle.

Of course, I think this is a warning shot after the journalistic investigations that I have been doing for a while to uncover drug dealers and drug schemes. This drug cartel even has a reward. They openly write in Telegram channels that they pay 1000 dollars, they pay 5000 dollars; finally, they have already paid 10 000 dollars to beat me on the street and spread this video on social networks. I have evidence, I have kept the so-called screenshots,” Eliso Kiladze says.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs has initiated an investigation into the incident under Article 236 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to the illegal purchase, storage, and carrying of firearms.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 270 people have been arrested on charges of drug crimes across the country, of whom at least 27 are drug dealers. On March 6, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the arrest of six people in Tbilisi and the regions, and on March 2, ten people were arrested.