27.03.2007 - Source: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights

The media implicated high-ranking Interior Ministry officials in Sandro Girgvliani's murder case; in July, three suspects were sentenced to prison terms, but critics claimed that the Interior Ministry officials who had masterminded the killing went unpunished ("Human Rights in the OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America, Report 2007 (Events of 2006)") [ID 19526]

"Sandro Girgvliani, a young employee of the United Georgian Bank, was found dead on 28 January on the outskirts of Tbilisi. The media soon implicated high-ranking Interior Ministry officials, including the director of the Constitutional Rights Security Department and his deputy, whom Girgvliani had met privately in a café briefly before his death and had a dispute with. After this he had been kidnapped by unknown men, forced into a car and taken away. The reluctance of authorities to deal with the case promptly and adequately triggered public disquiet, which escalated into demonstrations demanding Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili’s resignation. In July, three suspects were sentenced to prison terms, but critics claimed that the highranking Interior Ministry officials who had masterminded the killing went unpunished."

Document(s): Open document

12.07.2006 - Source: BBC News

Murder of Sandro Girgvliani: Prosecutors launched investigation into testimony provided at the court hearings by a key witness; he named Oleg Melnikov, a former police officer, as suspect but failed to identify him in a line up ("Probe into Testimony of High-Profile Murder Witness Launched") [ID 15719]

Document(s): Open document

06.07.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Gia Alania sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for Sandro Girgvliani murder case; 3 other officers from the same department were jailed for 7 years each; hundred protesters were rallying outside the court to condemn what they said was a biased trial ("Verdict Announced on High-Profile Murder, Amid Protests") [ID 15581]

Document(s): Open document

03.07.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Court hearing of Sandro Girgvliani's murder case turned into a confrontation between the opposition leaders and the judge; the case has become in a focus on the country's politics in February after allegations that some officials from the Interior Minstry could have been involved in the case ("MP, Judge Verbally Spar at High-Profile Murder Trial") [ID 15577]

Document(s): Open document

18.05.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Relatives of murdered Sandro Girgvliani demand interrogation of Interior Ministry officials who allegedly could have been behind this crime ("Civil Groups Warn of Protests over High-Profile Murder Case") [ID 15474]

Document(s): Open document

16.03.2006 - Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Protests in Tbilisi , Batumi and Kutaisi against police violence in case of bank employee allegedly killed by interior ministry officers ("Georgians Use Car Horns To Protest Police Violence") [#46769], [ID 4532]

Document(s): Open document

13.03.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Murder of Sandro Girgvliani: Top-level officials from ministry of internal affairs suspended pending investigation of the murder case; decision was made after public defender critisised interior ministry earlier on the same day ("Yielding to Public Pressure, MIA Suspends Top Brass") [#47267], [ID 4534]

Document(s): Open document

10.03.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Murder of Sandro Girgvliani: Public gathering in Tbilisi; participation of opposition parties and civil society organisations demanding to condemn and punish all those officials who allegedly are linked to murder case; interior minister accused of covering up top officials ("Public Gathering Demands Fair Probe into High-Profile Murder") [#46651], [ID 4535]

Document(s): Open document

09.03.2006 - Source: EurasiaNet

Sandro Girgvliani, head of the international relations department of the United Georgian Bank, was beaten to death on January 27; 4 interior ministry employees were arraigned on the murder; opposition accuses the minister of covering for higher ranking officials ("Murder Puts Spotlight on Georgia's Interior Ministry") [#46446], [ID 4536]

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Opposition parliamentarians fear that the interior ministry will cover up the involvement of 4 ministry officials linked to the murder of Sandro Girgvliani ("Opposition Fears MIA is Covering Up Officials Linked to Murder") [#45844], [ID 4537]

Document(s): Open document

22.02.2006 - Source: Civil Georgia

Opposition demands information about murder of head of the United Georgian Bank’s international relations department, Sandro Girgvliani after weekly TV-program aired details of the case on February 12 , suggesting that top officials from the Ministry of Interior Affairs (MIA) could be linked to it ("Top MIA Officials Grilled over Murder Case") [#44985], [ID 4543]

Document(s): Open document