Sheraton Batumi accused of obstructing investigation into attack on opposition leader Gakharia

The Gakharia For Georgia Party on Monday accused the Sheraton Batumi hotel in western Georgia of withholding critical video evidence related to the January 15 attack on Giorgi Gakharia, the party leader and former prime minister.

The party claims the hotel had refused to hand over surveillance footage and delayed its official response, citing legal consultations.

In a statement, the party revealed that Sheraton Batumi management initially assured them the footage would be preserved, even if seized by investigators. However, the party later learned that prosecutors had confiscated the recordings, servers, and storage devices, leaving no copies behind.

The party alleges coordinated efforts between the Sheraton and investigative authorities to destroy evidence, accusing the hotel of being complicit in the crime. Additionally, they raised concerns about the security of users’ personal information stored on the seized servers.

The incident in question occurred at the Sheraton Batumi hotel, where Gakharia and journalist Zviad Koridze were reportedly attacked by individuals linked to the ruling Georgian Dream party. According to witness accounts, including party member Levan Gogichaishvili, the GD representatives Dimitri Samkharadze and Giorgi Manvelidze were involved.

Gakharia suffered a fractured nasal bone and a concussion during the attack and was treated at a local clinic. The party has criticized the investigation’s handling of the case, citing delayed communication and unresponsiveness from the Prosecutor’s Office.