Culture minister announces suspended funding for boxing federation as accuses its chair of attempted violence

Tea Tsulukiani, a minister of Culture of Georgia, on Thursday said that the country’s boxing federation would no longer be funded from the state budget, while boxers would receive necessary finances directly, following her accusations that the federation head, David Tsiklauri, tried to physically assault her in June, at a meeting in the ministry office. 

In her remarks, the country’s former justice minister, also said that Tsiklauri was instructed by the previous United National Movement authorities to exert pressure on the opposition representatives while in office, in the summer of 2012, before the Georgian Dream authorities took office. 

“David Tsiklauri is just a name and a surname. He means nothing to us”, said the minister. 

“The Boxing Federation did not have a funding problem before the attempted violence that I have made a mention of.The Boxing Federation was stopped funding after this attempted violence, although the funding of the boxers continued and will continue”, said Tsulukiani. 

For his part, Tsiklauri says that he was verbally abused by the minister on which he had reacted. 

“I did not attack anyone. If I had attacked, I would not be here”, said Tsiklauri and added that “I may be arrested now”. 

He claimed that “following the controversies” he suggested to the minister that he would  leave the post and schedule new elections for the federation head. 

On which, Tsiklauri said, the minister said “let him resign and I will care about the consequences”.