Ex-security service high officials arrested
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Two former Georgian law-enforcement officers have been arrested and charged with murder.
The men, Levan Kardava and Giorgi Mazmishvili, are former high-ranking officers of Georgia's Constitutional Security Department which has been canceled after the change of the government.
The Prosecutor’s Office suspects the men to be involved in murder, abuse of power and falsifying evidence.
The Office claimed Kardava and Mazmishvili participated in a special operation near Navtlugi bus terminal in Tbilisi in January 2006 where three Georgian citizens were shot dead.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated that the operation was planned by Bacho Akhalaia, Georgia's former interior and defense minister and his brother David Akhalaia, ex-head of the Consitional Security Department.
The former Minister is now incarcerated in Tbilisi and his brother is wanted by Georgian police and named wanted on Interpol's wanted list.
Georgian law enforcers state the special operation in Navtlugi served to show the Akhalaia brothers as an example of Georgia's "zero-tolerance for crime" policy.
The three citizens were deliberately shot dead during the operation, alleged the Prosecutor's Office. The deceased were not involved in any criminal activity.
It was earlier believed the three men were killed for their alleged involvement in the prison break from #1 penitentiary institution.
One of the murdered was 17 year old Murad Gorgadze, the brother of Giorgi Gorgadze, an inmate of #1 jail.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated Gorgadze had information about an upcoming prison riot and prison break and he was ready to cooperate with the police.
However Akhalaia and his people decided to use force against the inmates, including Gorgadze and assassinate his brother.
"After the [bus terminal incident] Akhalaia and Kardava phoned Giorgi Gorgadze and told him his brother had been killed and they were on their way to the prison to "take care of him," the Office claimed.
After they arrived at the prison, Gorgadze and five other inmates were taken to the courtyard and beaten by Akhalaia, and members of riot police with batons and rifle butts.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, Kardava and Mazmishvili, who were arrested today, personally participated in the Navtlugi shooting incident.
If they are found guilty of the charges against them, they may be sent to jail for life.
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