Lawyer alleges witness intimidation after clash involving Russian tourists at Kakheti hotel

A lawyer representing a key witness in the investigation into a confrontation between wedding guests and Russian tourists at a hotel in Georgia's Kakheti region has accused police of pressuring witnesses, as authorities continue to investigate the incident.

Singer Aleksandre Mrelashvili, who attended the wedding, was summoned for questioning on 19 July as a witness in the investigation into the incident at Agaranis Mamuli (Agarani Estate) near Telavi, where a confrontation broke out between wedding guests and Russian nationals staying at the hotel.

Speaking on Monday, Mrelashvili's lawyer, Lasha Kapanadze, questioned why his client had been summoned for a second round of questioning after already giving a statement earlier in the day.

"I believe pressure is being exerted on witnesses because it is unclear why, after being questioned once in the morning, Aleksandre needed to be questioned again," Kapanadze said.

The lawyer added Mrelashvili witnessed liquid being poured from the hotel's third floor onto the wedding celebration below, damaging sound equipment. He said his client had already provided testimony to investigators and had publicly stated he would not change his account.

Kapanadze alleged that after making those remarks outside the police station, officers pursued Mrelashvili and forcibly took him back inside the building. He said the singer remained there until late at night before leaving without commenting to reporters.

The witness dispute follows an altercation at the hotel that has drawn widespread public attention because of conflicting accounts of how the confrontation began.

The MIA of Georgia said foreign nationals staying at the hotel insulted wedding guests from a balcony and poured water onto the celebration and its sound equipment before one of the guests assaulted a foreign woman. Police subsequently arrested a Georgian man on suspicion of intentionally inflicting minor bodily harm.

However, the Russian tourists involved have claimed the assault was motivated by them speaking Russian, alleging a man entered their hotel room and attacked one of the women.

The Interior Ministry has rejected Kapanadze's allegations regarding Mrelashvili, saying the singer chose not to complete his questioning, verbally insulted police officers and damaged a locker used to store personal belongings at the police station. The ministry said administrative proceedings had been launched against him.