Two Arrested in Connection to Russian Tourist Murder in Georgia

The regional court of Zugdidi, Georgia, has arrested two suspects in the case of the murder of Russian tourist Viktor Solovyov during an armed robbery in the Svaneti region, reports Rustavi 2 television.

Georgian citizens Revaz Pakelyani and Bejan Chkaduai face charges of attempted murder under aggravating circumstances, robbery, and illegal acquisition of weapons and ammunition. They face a prison sentence of 16 to 20 years or life imprisonment.

According to investigators, on January 5, the suspects attacked two Russian tourists traveling from Zugdidi to Mestia. The assailants seized the tourists' phones and shot one of them, Viktor Solovyov, before abducting him. The victim's body was later found in a river. The suspects were arrested on January 6.

The defendants' lawyers requested the release of their clients on bail. The court approved the prosecutor's motion to apply preventive detention for the defendant. During the session, Pakelyani claimed that he fired at the Russian tourist in self-defense.