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New inquiry into death of Georgia’s PM to be launched — the republic’s new chief prosecutor

Zhvania, 42, and his friend, deputy governor of Kvemo Kartli, Raul Yusupov, died on February 3, 2005, apparently poisoned by gas from a faulty heater
Zurab Zhvania. Photo ITAR-TASS
Zurab Zhvania. Photo ITAR-TASS

TBILISI, October 31 (Itar-Tass) — The death of Georgia’s Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania to be reinvestigated, the republic’s new chief prosecutor, Archil Kbilashvili, told the Tbilisi-based 9 Arxi television channel.

“There are suspicions that the official version of Zurab Zhvania’s death is far from reality,” he said.

“Members of Zhvania’s family and some public representatives have announced for many years that they do not trust the official version saying that the prime minister died of gas poisoning,” said the chief prosecutor, who is one of the country’s most famous lawyers.

Kbilashvili emphasized that “reinvestigation of the prime minister’s death will be one of the first cases the chief prosecutor’s office will start soon.”

In 1995-2001 Zurab Zhvania was the Georgian parliament’s speaker. In 2003 he together with Mikhail Saakashvili and Nino Burdzhanadze was one of the leaders of the Rose Revolution and after resignation of then president Eduard Shevardnadze he led the government.

According to the official version, Zhvania, 42, and his friend, deputy governor of Kvemo Kartli, Raul Yusupov, died on February 3, 2005, apparently poisoned by gas from a faulty heater in Yusupov’s flat Tbilisi.