Leader of the European Georgia party Giga Bokeria has responded to the Zugdidi developments by making the following comment in his televised interview with the Rustavi 2 TV.
"If the perpetrator of such a dreadful crime enjoys impunity, other criminals will be encouraged in the future.
I will refrain from making any assessments of police operations, for this operation is still in progress. Neither will I claim to be versed in this field. However, I should stress that failure to communicate with the media and the public in such a stressful situation is wrong. The public needs to be kept posted in similar cases. This is normal in every democratic country."
A gunman broke into the Bank of Georgia in Zugdidi and took 19 hostages earlier today. He demanded half a million dollars, a helicopter, and threatened to kill victims unless his demands were met.
A special operation in the municipality lasted for seven hours.
At around 10 p.m., the captor left the bank building, together with three victims. On leaving the bank, he was armed with a hand grenade.
No information on the armed assailants and the hostages' whereabouts have yet been released.
The MIA has not also publicized any official information.
