"I have earned enough merit to warrant a plea agreement" – Tamaz Elizbarashvili releases a letter from prison

Imprisoned businessman Tamaz Elizbarashvili addresses the investigator and prosecutor handling his case:

"You are charging me under Article 151, Part 1 of the Criminal Code—making threats. For anyone who saw my Facebook Live broadcast on August 31st, the validity of this charge is not in dispute.

In that broadcast, I explicitly threatened the seven TV Imedi employees who—on August 30th at the 'Skhva' restaurant—had physically accosted me and subsequently insulted my wife. I stated that, since they had not apologized for their disgraceful conduct, I would force them to their knees wherever I happened to encounter them...

Yes, I publicly threatened all seven TV Imedi employees from my Facebook page because they violated the unwritten code of Georgian men; they subjected me—while I was with my wife—to both physical and verbal abuse, and for that, they owe me an apology.

I will not start talking about myself..." "...discussing who I am and what I have done for my country. I will tell you just one thing: I have enough merit to warrant a plea agreement," writes Tamaz Elizbarashvili on social media.

For the record, the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has charged Tamaz Elizbarashvili with making threats. According to the investigation, on August 30 of this year, a verbal altercation occurred between Elizbarashvili and the victim at a Tbilisi restaurant regarding a comment posted on social media. The agency reports that Elizbarashvili threatened the victims with death and bodily harm; later, intending to carry out the threat, he returned to the scene armed and attempted to force his way into the restaurant. The Prosecutor's Office states that on August 31, the accused also published a video message on social media in which he continued making threats.

Tamaz Elizbarashvili has been remanded in custody as a measure of restraint.