12:52, 8 May 2008

Georgia: activist of party in power shot dead by policeman

Today at night, in the centre of Tbilisi, a policeman has shot dead Giorgiy Gamtsemlidze, an activist of one of the electoral offices of the ruling party of Georgia - the United National Movement.

Mr Gamtsemlidze, 32, exceeded the traffic speed when driving his car and failed to stop when demanded by the police. The latter launched a pursuit, during which the car ran into a road kerb. Gamtsemlidze tried to run away, but the policeman opened fire. Giorgiy Gamtsemlidze was heavily wounded and died practically right after hospitalization.

We remind you that on April 24 the Central Electoral Commission of Georgia approved the registration of the Party Candidates' List of the United National Movement.

The information of the "Mze" TV Company about the activist's death was confirmed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, where they added that a criminal case was initiated against the policeman under the article dealing with excess of service powers.