Director of Tsinandali wine factory arrested for conflict with the official of Constitutional Security Department

The legal officers arrested the director of Tsinandali wine factory Sandro Megutnishvili. The Office of Prosecutor is accusing him of group act of hooliganism on a preliminary agreement and damaging the property of Constitutional Security Department official. According to the witnesses of incident, law-enforcement officials requested grapes from the wine factory that was refused by Sandro Megutnishvili, after which he was arrested.

As the officials of Tsinandali wine factory stated, the incident took place between Sandro Megutnishvili and the official of Constitutional Security Department, Zurab Grdzelishvili.

“Grdzelishvili came in the wine factory and asked Sandro to come out. Sandro could not go out, his leg was hurting. He asked us to tell him to come in. The Security Official came in. The conversation regarded the vintage. Grdzelishvili requested from Sandro the receiving of grapes no matter he needed it or not. Sandro said, that he had a lot of wine left with no vessel and it was impossible to receive about 20 ton of grapes. What’s 20 ton? You need to receive at least 200 ton. Sandro said he could not do it. They argued. Security Official cursed on Sandro. Sandro tried to beat him. Then they beat each other. Sandro’s cousin Aleks joined the fight. We tried to resolve the conflict. Grdzelishvili left, but came back in short with several other officials. They came in the factory and came up directly to Sandro. The fight broke out again. 6-7 people were beating Sandro. He was thrown on the floor and beaten severely in his ribs. Then both Sandro and Aleksi were detained. Later, we found out that they were both arrested,” – one of the witnesses told us.

Sandro Megutnishvili’s brother Achiko Megutnishvili didn’t wish to talk about the details of the incident. Achiko Megutnishvili is the deputy of the Tsinandali territorial organ of Telavi Municipality. “I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about this matter. I can’t say anything.”

-    Who’s your brother’s lawyer?

-    I can’t tell you. I don’t want to disclose this information.

-    Did your brother receive any injuries after being beat up?


-    Who said that he’s beat up? I can’t tell you anything. Goodbye.’’

Leila Garsevanishvili, lawyer: “Sandro is convicted of committing a crime enshrined in paragraph A of the second part of article 287 of Criminal Code of Georgia – the group act of hooliganism committed on a preliminary agreement. Also, the crime enshrined in the article 187, the damage and destruction of another’s property. He’s not beaten. I can’t say anything else. You can go and ask Prosecutor’s Office for a comment.”

No comment was made in Kakheti Regional Prosecutor’s Office regarding this case “considering the interests of investigation.”

The application about an arrest as a form of compulsory measure was discussed in Telavi Regional Court on August 28th. The judge, Shalva Mchedlishvili passed two month preliminary arrest sentence against the detainees. As Keti Asabashvili, the individual responsible for public information stated to Court, the order was appealed to Tbilisi Appellate Court.

According to Kakheti Governor, George Gviniashvili, law-enforcement officials had nothing to do with the vintage. “They never had such instruction. Kakheti is not in such a hard situation to have difficulties with conducting vintage. No need for law-enforcement involvement exists. As for the arrest of Sandro Megutnishvili, the investigation will clear up everything,” – stated George Gviniashvili.

It’s significant, that last week, one of the owners of the wine factory “Shumi” in the village of Tsinandali, Telavi region, Otar Piranishvili committed suicide. According to Kakheti Information Center, several days before the suicide, several officials of the Investigation Department of Revenue Service came in the wine company for conducting check-up.