Mother of murder teacher Avaliani alleges newly arrested suspect played key organising role

The mother of murdered teacher Giga Avaliani has alleged that Giorgi Malania, who was arrested this week in connection with the case, played a significant organising role in her son's killing.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Eka Kupatadze claimed Malania could have prevented the murder but instead chose not to do so.

"He could have saved Giga, but instead he chose Giga's murder. He knew that Giga's life was measured in minutes that day," she said.

Kupatadze also alleged that telephone records indicated communication between Malania and another defendant, Aleksandre Gabashvili, on the day of the killing.

"During that period, there appears to have been telephone contact between Giorgi Malania and Aleksandre Gabashvili. It appears that Gabashvili obtained a great deal of information from Malania. Gabashvili did not know what Giga looked like, he did not know what I looked like, and he did not know our address," she said.

According to Kupatadze, Malania contacted Gabashvili repeatedly on 8 October, while the case was officially opened the following day.

She argued that prosecutors had initially brought a lesser charge based on the evidence currently available but said she believed it would eventually be upgraded.

"Giorgi Malania played a significant role as an organiser of this murder. Had it not been for him, Giga Avaliani would be alive today. So why did the prosecution charge him only with failing to report a crime? That is a technical issue for now. The prosecution brought the charge that the current evidence supports, but I am convinced that the charge will change and that he will be identified as an organiser," she said.

Malania was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the investigation into Avaliani's murder.