Deputy Interior Minister Vladimer Bortsvadze said that information saying that Zugdidi Bank assailant Badri Esebua has escaped after apprehension is not close to the truth.
"This is a deliberately spread blatant lie; the allegation saying that we detained the offender, and he escaped is false. We promise that you will be the first to hear from us the news on his detention," Bortsvadze said.
The Deputy Interior Minister also said at the briefing at Zugdidi regional police departmentthat investigative efforts are active to determine the offender's whereabouts.
A gunman broke into the Bank of Georgia in Zugdidi and took 43 hostages on 21 October. He demanded half a million dollars, a helicopter, and threatened to kill the hostages unless his demands were met.
Late at night, the captor left the bank building late at night, together with three victims and $500,000. He freed all hostages at dawn and vanished without a trace.
The MIA has released the information saying that all hostages have been freed and are now safe.
