Georgia Detains Armenian Citizen Suspected of Damaging Heydar Aliyev Bust

An Armenian citizen has been detained in Georgia on suspicion of damaging a bust of former Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev in central Tbilisi, Georgian authorities and the man’s lawyer said.

The incident occurred on the morning of September 21 at Heydar Aliyev Park in Tbilisi’s Abanotubani district. Georgian authorities have not publicly identified the suspect by name.

The man’s public defender, Teona Peradze, confirmed that he is an Armenian citizen in his 40s who had traveled to Georgia as a tourist. She said he had no close ties to the country and is exercising his right to remain silent.

A Georgian court ordered the man held in custody while the case proceeds. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry said the case is being investigated under Article 187, Part 1 of the country’s Criminal Code, which covers intentional damage or destruction of another person’s property resulting in significant damage.

The bust has since been covered as restoration work is carried out. Available images and local reports indicate that part of the monument’s face was damaged. Authorities have not said how the damage was caused or disclosed a possible motive.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the detention Wednesday, saying Georgia’s Foreign Ministry notified the Armenian Embassy in Tbilisi on September 25. The Armenian Embassy is in contact with Georgian authorities over the case, the ministry said.

Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Georgia, Faig Guliyev, has also addressed the incident, saying Georgian law enforcement and security agencies are continuing their investigation.

No further details about the evidence in the case have been made public.

Heydar Aliyev led Azerbaijan from 1993 until shortly before his death in 2003. His son, Ilham Aliyev, succeeded him as president and has governed Azerbaijan since then.

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