Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti prosecutor found killed
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, January 19
Vakhtang Kiria, a prosecutor at the western Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Prosecutor’s Office, was found dead in a rented apartment in Tbilisi on January 16. The man suspected of murdering him committed suicide when stopped by police.
Kiria left home on January 13 according to his family, and for several days his whereabouts were unknown.
His mobile phone was turned off, his car was missing, and Kiria was unreachable.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia stated on January 18 that as a result of investigative activities, the body of Kiria was found in an apartment on Vazha-Pshavela Avenue.
“A number of injuries had been inflicted with a sharp object. At the crime scene, we found signs of an attempted cover-up. In particular, the suspect had attempted to conceal the traces of blood in the bathroom, and a special appliance was installed for lifting the body. On the body itself, we found traces characteristic of an attempt to destroy the remains. An electric saw was also found with blood spots on it, as well as a big sized roller bag needed for moving large objects,” the police stated.
As soon as the objects were found, the case was classified as a premeditated murder.
The Ministry stated that the scene was cleared out of the flat where the body was found. The apartment was rented by Bidzina Kutchava, who was Kiria’s friend according to his family.
“In the course of conducting special measures, information was received that Kutchava along with two friends was leaving Tbilisi, and police requested him to stop his car while he tried to exit the city.
“As soon as Kutchava saw the pursuing officers, he shot himself in the head with a pistol registered to his name.
“While searching the clothes of Kutchava, the technical passport of Vakhtang Kiria’s vehicle was found which was stained supposedly with Kiria’s blood as well as gloves and three mobile phones,” police said.
The investigation established that Kiria and Kutchava were relatives and had rather close relations. It was also established that the murder case of Kiria is not linked to his professional activities.
For obtaining biological and other evidence and establishing the truth, an investigation is in progress.
Kutchava’s wife excludes the possibility that her husband to killed the prosecutor and then committed suicide.
“Our families have a friendly relationship; we reject the police’s version of events,” she says.
She claims that she might hire staff to independently study the case and study the existing evidence.
Kutchava’s family members say they are waiting for more details and evidence concerning the incident.
