Former MIA Officials Questioned over High-Profile Murder

Investigators from the General Prosecutor?s Office interrogated former officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as wife of the Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili on June 20 over Sandro Girgvliani murder case.

Data Akhalaia, ex-chief of the Department of Constitutional Security; Vasil Sanodze, ex-chief of the general inspection of the Interior Ministry (both of them were suspended from the office pending investigation), as well as Guram Donadze, former Interior Ministry spokesman and Interior Minister?s wife Tako Salakaia were interrogated. Despite numerous demands by the Girgvliani?s relatives their lawyer was not invited to attend the interrogation.
 
Relatives of Sandro Girgvliani, who was found dead in outskirts of Tbilisi on January 28, as well as some human rights activists suspect that these former officials, as well as the Interior Minister?s wife, or at least one of them, ordered the crime.

Police arrested in March four officers from the Interior Ministry?s Department of Constitutional Security on suspicion of committing Girgvliani?s murder.

Investigators claim that the murder was a result of a spontaneous quarrel and it was not ordered.

Chief Prosecutor of the Tbilisi Giorgi Gviniashvili said on June 20 that the court hearings on this case ?will start soon.?

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