Japaridze: Ryzhvadze's letter is genuine, he was defenseless before the system

The leader of the "Coalition for Change" Zurab Gircha Japaridze, sentenced on June 23 to 7 months in prison, commented on the alleged suicide attempt of the former head of the government of Adjara Tornike Ryzhvadze. The oppositionist considers the farewell letter published in the mass media to be genuine and believes that Ryzhvadze was subjected to severe pressure from unofficial structures.

According to Japaridze, the ex-official was not threatened with money or prison, but with something that could be more valuable than life - the safety of his family or his personal reputation. As for the conditions set, the blackmailers, the politician suggests, "asked to "surrender" their entourage, so that they would later deceive him and demand money from him + "surrender" others."

"He turned out to be defenseless even with his connections," writes Japaridze and notes the silent environment, which, in his opinion, was also "fed with a big spoon."

As a reminder, on July 7, the former chairman of the government of Adjara AR, Tornike Ryzhvadze, was hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the chest. The investigation into the incident is being conducted under Article 115 of the Criminal Code on incitement to suicide. In addition, one person was detained on charges of careless storage of a firearm (Article 238 of the Criminal Code).

It also became known that Tornyke Ryzhvadze wrote a letter before attempting suicide, which was found by medical personnel in his clothes. In it, the ex-politician raised several issues, in particular, the accusations against him of corruption and patronage of "baryg" (drug dealers). In a letter, the former head of the government of Adjara appeals to the founder and honorary chairman of the ruling party of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and the country's prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, with a request to protect his family.

Последние новости
Shchukin: Over 3 Billion Rubles Paid to Flood Victims in Dagestan
Society
Shchukin: Over 3 Billion Rubles Paid to Flood Victims in Dagestan
16 October 2026

More than 3 billion rubles have been paid out to residents of Dagestan affected by spring floods. Fyodor Shchukin announced this on October 15 while speaking at a session of the republic’s People’s Assembly. On the same day, deputies elected him as the head of the region, following which he took the oath of office and assumed his duties.

Court upholds sentences for four Crimean Tatars in ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’ case
Human rights
Court upholds sentences for four Crimean Tatars in ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’ case
16 October 2026

A Russian military appellate court has rejected the appeals of four Crimean Tatars—Nariman Ametov, Ali Mamutov, Vokhid Mustafayev, and Enver Khalilyayev—who were convicted of involvement with the organization ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir.’ The sentences handed down by the Southern District Military Court on May 21, 2026, remain unchanged. According to the TASS news agency, citing court sources, the individuals—part of what is known as the "third Dzhankoy group"—were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 to 15 years.

Six more individuals involved in the case concerning the storming of the presidential residence have been released in Georgia
Human rights
Six more individuals involved in the case concerning the storming of the presidential residence have been released in Georgia
16 October 2026

Six people convicted in connection with the events of October 4, 2025, in Tbilisi have been set free following the conclusion of plea agreements with the prosecutor's office. This was reported on October 16 by the television channel TV Pirveli.

UN Summit Participants in Yerevan Seek Ways to Halt Nature’s Destruction
Ecology
UN Summit Participants in Yerevan Seek Ways to Halt Nature’s Destruction
16 October 2026

On October 16, a Leaders’ Summit on Biodiversity is taking place in Yerevan, organized as part of the preparations for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). Participants are discussing how to accelerate the fulfillment of international commitments regarding biodiversity conservation and prompt more decisive action from governments.