(Tbilisi, November 25, 2002. Civil Georgia) “[Kakhi Asatiani] had certain problems in aviation business, but it’s pointless to talk about this now. It is not my competence to tackle such issue” – said President Shevardnadze in his traditional Monday radio briefing in connection with assassination of the Vice President of Georgian flagship air company Airzena.
Kakhi Asatiani, former chairman of the State Department of Sports, vice president of Airzena company, was shot in his car in the center of Tbilisi. Assassins have escaped.
As Rustavi 2 TV Company informs, the police has already questioned 40 persons in this connection and a sketch of alleged assassin will be ready in evening. The Rustavi 2 TV also informs that the police have arrested a car, which might be linked with the case.
“I don’t know the details. I haven’t met Mr. Asatiani for a long time. And seems that he was hesitating to bother me or other governmental officials” – said Shevardnadze in the radio interview. President instructed the Prosecutor General to have this case under special control.
On November 22 Georgian sportsmen and sport organizations held a meeting at the Department of Sports. Participants declared that after Asatiani’s funeral, they would hold a large-scale action in sign of protest against idleness of the law enforcement structures that has led to such tragic outcomes.
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