Georgian Rustavi 2 TV founder and ex-owner found dead
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Founder of Georgian television channel Rustavi 2 and ex-Mayoral candidate of Rustavi city, Erosi Kitsmarishvili, has been found dead in central Tbilisi.
Kitsmarishvili's body was inside his car, which was parked in underground parking at his Vake home. Officials said a firearm was found nearby, which was registered to Kitsmarishvili.
The Prosecutor's Office today released a statement that confirmed the firearm found at the scene was yesterday registered to Kitsmarishvili.
"The investigation started according to Georgian Criminal Law, Article 115 (to persuade a person to suicide), which was caused by factual circumstances existing at the initial stage. Various versions of the case are being discussed and checked. The results of the investigation will be released for society later,” read the statement.
A staff member of Tbilisi gun store 'Diana' confirmed to local media that Kitsmarishvili had purchased Czech pistol ÄZ 75. Kitsmarishvili's friend Badri Nanetashvili also told Georgian media that he planned to buy the gun as a gift for his brother.
A special investigation group comprised of employees of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Prosecutor's Office will work to investigate the cause of Kitsmarishvili's death, which is of "great interest of society”.
Kitsmarishvili took part in the recent elections - he was a Mayoral candidate of Rustavi city, near Tbilisi and lost in the first round of self-government elections on June 15.
Before he became involved in politics, he was a Georgian media executive and the ex-Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Russian Federation in 2008.
Prior to accepting the Ambassadorial post, Kitsmarishvili created and owned Rustavi 2 broadcasting company.
In November 2009, Kitsmarishvili took over the management rights of the Tbilisi-based pro-opposition television station Maestro TV until he was replaced.
President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili expressed his condolences over the death of the former Rustavi 2 television and mayoral candidate of Rustavi city Erosi Kitsmarishvili.
An independent expert is involved in the investigation into the sudden death of former media tycoon Erosi Kitsmarishvili.
Details of the investigation into the sudden death of former media tycoon Erosi Kitsmarishvili will soon be revealed publicly, a prosecutor says.
"As Prime Minister and as a citizen, I fully support any kind restoration of justice but in my opinion this is a controversy of two subjects which should go before judges at the court,” Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili told local media.
A statement made by the director of private broadcasting company Rustavi 2 TV, which has become the subject of a legal depute between its current and former owners two months ago, is causing a stir and gaining a range of assessments in Georgia.
"Even the most biased broadcasting policy can bring much less harm to the country than our partners’ questions with respect to media freedom in Georgia."
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has concluded its investigation into the 2014 death of Erosi Kitsmarishvili – an ex-owner of Rustavi 2 and former Georgian Ambassador to Russia.