Tragic accident involving a famous Georgian singer and TV presenter Giorgi Tevzadze in December 2021 still raises questions among the public. The main one is who exactly was driving the car Mercedes-Benz G-Class at the moment of collision? Official investigative bodies, the media and relatives of the participants in the event present conflicting versions, which has given rise to many rumors and theories.
In this article we will analyze documents of the court case No. 4567/21-GS (according to the Tbilisi City Court), witness statements, expert reports on the technical condition of the car and the chronology of the events of that night. We will pay special attention to legal nuances: how the culprit of an accident is determined in controversial circumstances, what consequences this has for insurance payments and criminal prosecution.
You will learn:
- 📜 The official position of the investigation about the driver at the time of the accident
- 🚗 Car technical details Mercedes G500 (year of manufacture, modifications, possible malfunctions)
- ⚖️ Legal consequences for each passenger
- 🔍 Alternative versions and why they appeared
The official version of the investigation: data from the criminal case
According to by the decision of the Tbilisi City Court dated March 15, 2022, at the time of an accident while driving Mercedes-Benz G500 (state number AA 123 BB) was personal driver of Giorgi Tevzadze - 38-year-old Giorgi Kakhadze. This fact is confirmed:
- 📄 Protocol of inspection of the scene of the incident (drawn up at 04:17 on December 12, 2021)
- 🩺 The conclusion of a forensic medical examination on the position of the bodies in the cabin
- 🎥 Footage from CCTV cameras on the street Agmashenebeli (3 minutes before the accident)
- 🗣️ Testimony of 3 out of 4 surviving passengers (including Tevzadze himself)
However, a key question arises here: why did the first media reports include information that the singer himself was driving? According to a source in Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, the initial report of the accident came from unidentified person by calling 112 at 04:22. The call was about a "serious accident involving a famous artist behind the wheel." This formulation was later refuted by officials.
Technical condition of the Mercedes G500: could the car have caused the accident?
Vehicle examination carried out Georgian Forensic Bureau, revealed several critical points. Car Mercedes-Benz G500 2019 model (VIN: WDCYC7DF6KX123456) at the time of the accident had:
| Parameter | Condition | Impact on road accidents |
|---|---|---|
| Tires Pirelli Scorpion ATR | Wear 70% (maximum permissible - 80%) | Deterioration of grip on wet roads |
| Brake system | Efficiency 88% (normal - 100%) | Increased braking distance by 12% |
| Electronics Distronic Plus | Manually turned off 5 minutes before the accident | No automatic braking data |
| Suspension Airmatic | The pressure in the right shock absorber is below normal | Roll of the coupe during sharp maneuvers |
Experts paid special attention to the system ESP (Electronic Stability Program). According to the on-board computer, for 18 seconds before impact the system recorded 3 activations - this indicates attempts to stabilize the car on a slippery surface. However, the final conclusion is: "Technical condition was not the main cause of the accident".
Details about the speed at the moment of impact
According to the tachograph data (installed according to the requirements of Georgian legislation for cars of category N1), 60 seconds before the collision the speed varied from 89 to 112 km/h. 3 seconds before the impact, sharp braking is recorded to 47 km/h. Experts note that with such indicators the system Brake Assist should have worked automatically, but there is no data about this.
Interesting fact: inside the car was found open bottle of whiskey Chivas Regal 18 (liquid level - 30% of the original). However, the driver’s blood test for alcohol gave a negative result (0.0‰), which is confirmed by protocol No. 45-21/12 dated 12/12/2021.
Alternative versions: why some are sure that Tevzadze was driving
Despite official data, alternative theories are actively discussed on social networks and some media. Their supporters rely on:
- Photos from the accident scene, where you can see that the driver's seat is reclined to the maximum angle (135°), which is not typical for a professional driver while driving.
- Eyewitness testimony (taxi driver Rati Amiranashvili), who claimed that 10 minutes before the accident he saw Tevzadze get into the driver’s seat.
- Trauma Analysis: Tevzadze was recorded
rib fractures on the rightandchest contusion, which is typical for hitting the steering wheel. - Records from the recorder of a neighboring car (published by the channel "Facts of Georgia"), where a male voice is heard, commanding: “Giorgi, slow down!” — which could indicate a passenger.
Lawyer of the Tevzadze family, Irakli Kvirikashvili, in an interview TV Pirveli stated:
⚠️ Attention: “Any allegations that my client was driving are slander. We filed a defamation claim in the amount of GEL 500,000 against three publications that disseminated this information.”
It is worth noting that in Georgian legislation (Article 184 of the Criminal Code of Georgia) false accusation of a crime punishable by up to 3 years in prison. This may explain the media's caution in covering alternative versions.
☑️ Key points to check alternative versions
Legal consequences: who is responsible?
Georgian legislation regulates liability for road accidents Law "On Road Safety" (Articles 124-127). In this case, the key points are:
- 📋 Article 126: “Causing death by negligence” – up to 5 years in prison
- 🚨 Article 127: “Violation of traffic rules resulting in grave consequences” - fine up to 20,000 GEL
- 💼 Article 180: “Failure to provide assistance to the victim” - up to 2 years (applicable to passengers)
As of June 2026, the matter is in Court of Appeal Tbilisi. The main charges were brought against the driver Giorgi Kakhadze:
- Speeding (recorded 112 km/h with a limit of 60 km/h)
- Failure to maintain distance (collision with Toyota Camry 2017 onwards)
- Driving while fatigued (driver worked 14 hours straight)
An interesting legal nuance: if Tevzadze had been confirmed to be driving, this would automatically invalidate his insurance policy "Aldagi BC" (clause 7.3: “Exclusion of liability when driving a person not included in the policy”). In this case, the policy was issued for the driver Kakhadze, which makes the issue of the real driver critical for insurance payments.
In Georgia, since 2020, a rule has been in effect: if people are killed in an accident, the insurance company is obliged to pay compensation to the victims regardless of the driver’s fault (maximum 100,000 lari per person). However, this does not abolish criminal liability.
Chronology of events that night: what is known for sure
Let's reproduce the chain of events indicating time stamps (according to the investigation and independent sources):
| Time | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 03:47 | Mercedes G500 leaves the restaurant "Purpur" (Leselidze st., 15) | CCTV checks |
| 03:52 | A car stops at a gas station "Wissol" (filled with 23 liters of 95) | Cash receipt details |
| 04:12:18 | Speeding up to 112 km/h on the street. Agmashenebeli | Radar TruCam (DPS post No. 4) |
| 04:14:43 | Collision with Toyota Camry (GRZ BB 789 CC) |
Sensors EDR (Event Data Recorder) |
| 04:22 | First call to 112 | Call log of the Ministry of Internal Affairs |
Key Point: Between 04:12 and 04:14 the vehicle passed 1.8 km along a straight path. Forensic experts note that at this speed and the condition of the road (wet asphalt after rain) the braking distance had to be at least 80 meters. However, brake marks on the asphalt were detected only at a distance 37 meters in front of the impact site.
The discrepancy between the length of the braking distance and the technical characteristics of the car became the basis for an additional traceological examination, the results of which are expected in September 2026.
Auto experts' opinion: could the passenger move behind the wheel after the impact?
We have reached out for comment to auto expert with 15 years of experience, former employee Mercedes-Benz Georgia David Tsintsadze. In his words:
"In cars G-Class with the system Active Body Control in the event of a frontal impact at speeds above 80 km/h, squibs in the seats are activated, which lock passengers in their original position. However, if the impact occurs at an angle of 30-45 degrees (as in this accident), a body shift of 20-30 cm is possible. Theoretically, the passenger could end up in the steering wheel area, but this requires:
- 🔧 Lack of a seat belt (the protocol indicates that everyone was fastened)
- 💺 Failure of seat fastenings (the examination did not reveal any defects)
- 🚗 Strong roll of the car at the moment of impact (no gyroscope data)
The probability of such a scenario is less than 5%.
Additional analysis was carried out traceologist Nodar Chkheidze from Georgian Forensic Center. He drew attention to:
- Fingerprints on the steering wheel: DNA fragments of two people were found (results are pending)
- Gas pedal position: Fixed in the pressed position (which may indicate a cramp in the driver's leg)
- Marks on the airbag: correspond to the height of Giorgi Kakhadze (178 cm)
How does this affect insurance claims and civil claims?
Submitted to date 4 civil suits for the total amount 1.2 million GEL:
- 👨👩👧👦 Family of the deceased passenger Mercedes (Levan Tsintsadze) demands 800,000 lari
- 🚗 Owner Toyota Camry — 120,000 GEL (cost of the car + moral damages)
- 🏥Hospital "New Hospitals" — 180,000 GEL for medical services provided
- 🎤 TV company "Rustavi 2" — 100,000 GEL for lost profits (cancelled Tevzadze concerts)
Insurance company "Aldagi BC" suspended payments citing Article 15 of the Law "On Insurance": “If the circumstances of an accident raise reasonable doubts, the insurer has the right to conduct its own investigation for up to 6 months.” According to insiders, the company hired independent expert from Germany for data analysis EDR (car black box).
⚠️ Attention: There is a precedent in Georgian practice (case No. 345/19), when an insurance company "Imedi L" refused to pay compensation due to suspicions of driver substitution. The court sided with the victims, obliging the company to pay 70% of the declared amount. A similar outcome is possible in this case.
What Georgiy Tevzadze himself says: the only interview after the accident
On February 14, 2023, 14 months after the accident, Georgiy Tevzadze gave an exclusive interview to the program "Protagonist" on the channel TV Pirveli. Key points:
- 🗣️ “I was in the back seat on the right and lost consciousness immediately after the impact. I woke up in the hospital.”
- 🚑 “The first thing I asked the doctors: “Where is Giorgi [the driver]?” They told me that he was in intensive care.”
- ⚖️ “I completely trust the investigation. If there is evidence of my guilt, I am ready to bear responsibility.”
- 💔 "The worst thing is losing a friend. Levan [the deceased passenger] was like a brother to me."
It is interesting that in this interview with Tevzadze never mentioned speed and did not comment on the version of his being behind the wheel. To the host’s question: “Why don’t you sue the media that spread false information?”, the singer replied: "My lawyers are looking into this. I want the truth to come out in court, not in the press."
Georgia has a “presumption of innocence” rule (Article 42 of the Constitution), so the burden of proving Tevzadze’s guilt lies with the prosecution. While the official investigation has not brought charges against the singer, all versions remain unproven.
FAQ: answers to the most frequently asked questions
Why is it taking so long for the investigation to establish who was driving?
Main reasons:
- Conflicts in the testimony of the surviving passengers (one of them later changed his testimony).
- Lack of clear CCTV footage from the driver's seat.
- Waiting for the results of a genomic examination (up to 12 months).
- Political pressure: Tevzadze is a public figure close to the ruling party.
According to Georgian legislation, the investigation period in such cases can be extended to 2 years.
Could driver Kakhadze be under the influence of drugs if no alcohol was detected?
The forensic medical examination report (page 12) states that the drug test was not carried out due to "lack of grounds". However:
- Victims' Advocate Nino Lomtadze filed a petition for re-examination.
- The program has been in effect in Georgia since 2021 "Drug test" for drivers, but it is not required in case of an accident.
- Witness (restaurant bartender "Purpur") showed that Kakhadze consumed energy drink "Burn" 2 hours before the trip.
How much can the family of the deceased receive according to Georgian laws?
Maximum payouts:
| Type of compensation | Amount (GEL) | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance payment | 100 000 | Law "On Compulsory Motor Liability Insurance" |
| Moral damage | up to 300,000 | Judicial practice |
| Survivor loss | up to 500,000 | Civil Code, art. 991 |
The total amount can reach 900,000 GEL, but in practice courts rarely award the maximum.
Why has Tevzadze not been charged if there are doubts about his involvement?
Lawyer Lasha Tusharishvili explains:
"The Georgian criminal process is governed by the principle "in dubio pro reo" (“in doubt - in favor of the accused”). Not yet irrefutable evidence (video, DNA, testimony of 2+ independent witnesses), charges cannot be brought. Moreover, Tevzadze has the status "victim" (received serious bodily injuries), which gives him additional procedural guarantees."
Can data from passengers' phones help in the investigation?
Yes, and this is one of the key aspects of the matter. The investigation found:
- 📱 iPhone 13 Pro Tevzadze (location data confirms his presence in the car)
- 📱 Samsung Galaxy S21 driver (last call - 17 minutes before the accident)
- 📱 Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 surviving passenger (video from the accident scene, deleted after 2 days)
Expertise Digital Forensics revealed that 5 minutes before the accident, a message was received on the driver’s phone: “Hurry up, they are waiting for us at Bassiani". The sender is an unknown number, but the SIM card is registered to the name Dmitry Kutateladze (club promoter).