23:58, 5 June 2019

Investigators voiced out details of schoolboys' murder in Tbilisi

Zaza Saralidze (in the center). Photo by Inna Kukudjanova for the "Caucasian Knot"

Mikhail Kalandiya was accused of killing a schoolboy in Tbilisi after new evidence of his involvement in the crime appeared, the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has stated. Kalandiya refuses to plead guilty.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 3, the court increased the prison term up to 11 years and 3 months for both persons accused of killing schoolboys in Tbilisi. On June 4, while attempting to leave Tbilisi, a suspect Mikhail Kalandiya was detained. Zaza Saralidze, the father of one of the killed schoolboys, has treated Kalandiya's detention as fair.

Within a new inquiry, investigators have once again questioned the witnesses, said Vladimir Bortsvadze, the Georgian Deputy Interior Minister. According to his version, investigators obtained evidence of how Kalandiya showed a metal object and how he told that he hit the stomach of the deceased schoolboy with it.

Within the new investigation, three persons have been brought to criminal responsibility, including a teenager who had given false testimony, Mr Bortsvadze said.

On May 22, the court sentenced the teen to two years and three months in jail for giving false testimony about the brawl that ended with the death of two Tbilisi schoolboys.

The trial has political nature, Kalandiya's father has stated.

Earlier Zaza Saralidze called Kalandiya a suspected participant in the crime, Nastan Londariya, a Saralidze's advocate, said.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 5, 2019 at 04:05 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Inna Kukudjanova

Source: CK correspondent