Memorial for Sagarejo shooting victims to be built on Kakheti highway

Kakheti, Georgia: One year after the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of six people, including a police officer, in Sagarejo, Kakheti, Georgia, the local authorities have announced plans to build a memorial for the fallen on one of the islands located on Kakheti highway.

According to the decision of the Mayor of Sagarejo, Avtandil Gulikashvili, the memorial will be a gathering place where the residents and visitors will honour the memory of those who died in the tragedy on January 19 every year.

The shooting occurred on January 20, 2023, when a former soldier, Nodar Atuashvili, opened fire from his apartment balcony, killing four of his neighbours and wounding five others. He then shot and killed a responding police officer, Chief Lieutenant Otar Ghvinashvili, before committing suicide. 

The incident shocked the nation and sparked outrage over the lack of security and regulation of firearms in the country. The Prime Minister of Georgia, Narendra Modi, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and promised to provide all possible assistance to those affected.

The memorial project is expected to be completed by the end of this year and will feature the names and photos of the victims, as well as a plaque with a message of peace and solidarity. The Mayor of Sagarejo said that the memorial will serve as a reminder of the value of human life and the need to prevent such violence from happening again.

Sagarejo Shooting Incident

The horrific shooting incident at Sagarejo left five dead and five injured. While investigating the matter, one Senior Detective of the Kakheti Police Department, Senior Lieutenant of the Police, named Otar Ghvinashvili, succumbed to the gunshot from the accused. The attacker opened fire on the police from one of the apartments. As a result of the wounds sustained, Senior Lieutenant of Police Otar Ghvinashvili died.