A Judo practitioner has been hospitalized as a result of an incident involving the former president of the Georgian Judo Federation, Lomer Zhorzholiani.
He allegedly opened fire on a number of judoka who were demanding the resignation of current Federation president Davit Kevkhishvili according to Radio Tavisupleba.
The incident occurred on Tbilisi’s central Agmashenebeli Avenue; reports said judoka Soso Tselauri was wounded in the femur. Four people were arrested, among them the alleged shooter, Zhorzholiani, who currently coaches Georgia’s youth judo team. Unconfirmed reports put Federation President Davit Kevkhishvili at the scene but said he left immediately after the incident.
According to the ministry, officers tried to break up a fight between several men, after which a gun was fired. ‘L. J.’ was detained for ‘illegal possession and carrying of firearms’.
Several others were treated by medical stuff and one man later went to a nearby clinic with a hunshot wound. Police opened up an investigation for a “premeditated assault causing bodily harm”
Judokas have begun voicing grievances about financial transparency in the federation, demanding since early May that Kevkhishvili resign. He then sacked the entire coaching team in response but has so far refused to do step down himself. Until Kevkhishvili leaves the post, judokas say they will not take part in training or participate in international tournaments. Judokas have held several rallies against Kevkhishvili, the last one on 27 May.
