Giorgi Revazishvili (judoka) explained

Giorgi Revazishvili (born 16 November 1974) is a Georgian judoka. He was arrested and convicted on the charges of extortion of USD 8,000 from Greek businessman in Tbilisi.

After the court passed decision to imprison the perpetrators their friends, mainly wrestlers and relatives, destroyed the court hall and blocked the central Rustaveli Avenue inTbilisi. Riot police was deployed to the streets first time since the "Rose revolution" and police dispersed the demonstration.[1] The arrests of the wrestlers resulted in protests by other sportsmen. Some of them even refused to take part in preparatory training for the World Championship in wrestling. Nestor Khergiani, two time champion of Europe in judo, stated: “We are not going to wrestle! Let the government officials wrestle instead of us”.[2]

Later on, Zviad Zviadauri, Olympic champion in Judo and Dilar Khabuliani, former Minister of Interior and president of Judo Federation, apologized to the President Saakashvili for the riots.

Achievements

Year Tournament Place Weight class
2002 European Judo Championships5th Half lightweight (66 kg)
2000 European Judo Championships3rd Lightweight (73 kg)
1999 World Judo Championships3rd Extra lightweight (60 kg)
European Judo Championships5th Half lightweight (66 kg)
1998 European Judo Championships3rd Half lightweight (66 kg)
1997 World Judo Championships2nd Extra lightweight (60 kg)
European Judo Championships2nd Half lightweight (65 kg)
1996 Olympic Games7th Half lightweight (65 kg)
European Judo Championships1st Half lightweight (65 kg)
1994 European Judo Championships3rd Extra lightweight (60 kg)

References

  1. Web site: Civil.Ge | Police, Protesters Clash in Tbilisi . 2010-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140109234244/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=10255 . 2014-01-09 . dead .
  2. Khergiani quoted in newspaper Rezonansi, N 171 July 6, 2005