The Prosecutor`s Office of Georgia [PoG] has indicted Tamaz Elizbarashvili on charges of making unlawful threats, the prosecuting authority announced.

"On 30 August at approximately 23:40, T. Elizbarashvili and one of the victims crossed paths at a restaurant in Tbilisi. A verbal altercation ensued concerning social media comments previously posted by Elizbarashvili directed at the victim and their family.

During the dispute, Elizbarashvili issued direct threats to the victim and those accompanying them, warning that he would not leave the matter unresolved, would return in roughly 30 minutes, and ordered them not to leave the premises.

Knowing that T. Elizbarashvili possessed firearms that could be used against them, the victims experienced a genuine fear for their lives and physical safety, prompting them to attempt to leave the restaurant.

At approximately 00:20, Elizbarashvili returned to the scene to carry out his threats. He was armed, kept his hand ostentatiously inside his jacket pocket, and attempted to force his way into the restaurant while continuing to hurl threats and obscenities at the victims.

Several victims who had been unable to leave the immediate vicinity in time experienced a well-founded fear that the threats would be carried out. Despite security staff attempting to bar his entry, Elizbarashvili forced his way into the premises. Upon verifying that the victims were no longer inside, he departed the location.

On 31 August, Elizbarashvili published a written status update and a video address on social media, in which he persisted with his threats and demanded a public apology. These actions further instilled a well-founded fear of death and bodily harm in the victims.

T. Elizbarashvili has been charged under Part 1 of Article 151 of the Criminal Code of Georgia [threatening death or bodily harm where the victim has well-founded reason to fear the execution of the threat], an offence punishable by up to 1 year`s imprisonment.

The PoG will file a motion with the court requesting pre-trial detention measures within the statutory timeframe", - says the agency.