Restaurant owner released on ₾5,000 bail after alleged assaults on Georgian staff, hiring Russians

Teimuraz Varshanidze, a owner of Rerto restaurant in Georgia’s coastal city of Batumi, on Tuesday was released on  ₾5,000 bail before the launch of trials, for alleged threats and violence to Georgian employees in his facility. 

Varshanidze, who does not admit to the crime, was arrested following a social media post by his former employee, who accused him of insulting Georgian personnel and hiring Russians on managerial positions, pointing to his pro-Kremlin sentiments. 

The footage published on social media last week showed Varshanidze’s dispute with his employee and an alleged clash, with the suspect claiming he had insulted “no one” and was only shouting.  Following the release of the footage, all 15 employees of the facility quit jobs in protest and the labour inspection also fined the facility ₾30,000 and stopped its work due to “critical violations”.