Posted on 02/07/2005 6:56:09 AM PST by dead
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is sending a team of experts to look into last week's death of Georgia's premier and a car bombing that killed three policemen days earlier, the US ambassador said.
The Thursday death of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, which officials say appears to have come from carbon-monoxide poisoning, and the car-bombing in Gori two days earlier left many Georgians feeling unsettled and some suggested there may have been a link between the events.
Zhvania was leading efforts to work out a negotiated settlement on South Ossetia, a region that has been de-facto independent since the end of a separatist conflict a decade ago. Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed to restore control of South Ossetia and another separatist region, Abkhazia.
Both regions have ties with Russia and a Georgian parliament member last week said both the bombing in Gori, the Georgian city closest to South Ossetia, and Zhvania's death could have been the work of "certain outside forces", an apparent reference to Russia that the Kremlin sharply dismissed.
Georgian officials say there was no evidence of foul play in Zhvania's death, which they say was due to an improperly ventilated gas space heater at the apartment of a friend, who also died.
They previously said samples of Zhvania's blood would be examined by the FBI to determine the cause of death, but Ambassador Richard Miles told The Associated Press Monday that FBI involvement is being expanded.
An FBI team is to arrive in Georgia in the near future to look both incidents, at Georgian officials' request, he said.
"We don't doubt the technical expertise" of the Georgians, Miles said, adding that he was unaware of evidence indicating Zhvania's death was anything other than an accident or a connection to the Gori bombing.
"We don't find these events linked," he said.
Nonetheless, FBI involvement could reassure Georgians that a thorough investigation is being conducted and would demonstrate US interest in promoting stability in Georgia.
Zhvania was buried after a funeral in which Saakashvili said Georgia would remained undeterred in its efforts to pull itself out of the poverty and corruption that descended upon it after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
"I want to tell Georgia's ill-wishers; 'Have no hopes, have no illusions. Zurab Zhvania is no more, but we are still alive ... Georgia will become a very strong country," Saakashvili said.
© 2005 AP
I remember when NPR said, "No sign of foul play." I was rather suspicious. Prime Ministers don't usually die of such trivial things...
You'd be the right person to post this!
I was a tad suspicious when I initially read about this--glad you posted this follow-up article.
The space heater was new, installed a couple of days prior to the deaths.
I wonder who installed it?
...which they say was due to an improperly ventilated gas space heater at the apartment of a friend, who also died.
What struck me about the initial report was info in the article that said central heating was rare in the country & that space heating was the norm...wood & gas. Which would make me think that Georgians, as a group, would be pretty savvy about venting. Even if it's proven that CO was the cause of death, you gotta' wonder how long the heater had been in service & exactly 'how' the venting was improper & when it got that way.
Thanks for that info.
I am confident, that the FBI will, in Georgia, do exactly what they did in the last major case in Georgia, that is, track down Richard Jewell and blame him. Hey, if it got them maximum bonuses and prmotions last time, why not this time?
The FBI couldn't find Whitey Bulger when he had an active safety deposit box in London until 2 years ago.
If they means "Russia" - Why would they do in the guy most likely to make deals with Russia - allowing an anti-Russian hardliner - and the dead man's political enemy to take his job? Also why would Georgia - hostile to Russia - cover up for their enemy?
Like Is aid in another post - I think it is an accident - Hundreds die like this in Georgia - so common its sick - but if it was a foul deed - the evidence points to the man's Georgian rivals in politics not Russia.
I think this was a tragic accident - happens all the time there (not kidding) but to those who want to consider the death an assasination - Who benefits? The more anti-Russian portion of the Georgian military establishment's party it seems. They would have the means, motive and the opportunity to carry out such a complicated hit.
Also, the Georgian authorities - already hostile to Russia - would not cover up for Russia if this was a hit from Russia (and it would be a difficult for Russia to pull off). Who benefits? Clearly not Russia or her allies in the breakaway republics. If an assasination (I must stress I still think it's an accident) than the prime suspect is Okruashvili in my book.
I wasn't aware that this is so common. That's sad.
Good point you both raised, but this was a Prime Minister who died, not a common citizen, so naturally questions will be raised and with the car bombing a few days before, people are unsettled.
Both regions have ties with Russia and a Georgian parliament member last week said both the bombing in Gori, the Georgian city closest to South Ossetia, and Zhvania's death could have been the work of "certain outside forces", an apparent reference to Russia that the Kremlin sharply dismissed.
It appears that a member of parlieament thinks there was some funny business.
An FBI team is to arrive in Georgia in the near future to look both incidents, at Georgian officials' request, he said.
Obviously, it's not that silly of an idea that foul play could be involved. As a note, I don't claim to presume who, if anyone caused the deaths.
Thanks for making me think though!
Shouldn't our FBI be concentrating on AMERICA?
So we have two options - either its an accident or his intenral rivals took him out. Russia is out as a suspect, any way you look at it.
Aha, I see! Thanks for the info!
Ping
"Good point you both raised, but this was a Prime Minister who died, not a common citizen, so naturally questions will be raised and with the car bombing a few days before, people are unsettled."
Car bombings happen all the time, all on their own, over there.
It's so sad!
Once placid SUV's lose their temper and just blow up, all on their own. It's more common than you think!
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