GEORGIAN OFFICIAL DISMISSES EVIDENCE AGAINST MURDER SUSPECTS IN ELMAR HUSEYNOV CASE

The Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Baramidze dismissed reports that late editor-in-chief of Monitor magazine Elmar Huseynov was murdered by Georgian citizens. Azerbaijani authorities have sent an official statement to Georgia regarding the issue. In his interview to Radio Liberty, Baramidze said that it was the first time he had heard about these suspicions.

“I hadn’t been aware of this issue till just now. Indeed, I had never heard anything about it. But rest assured the Georgian government will not harbour any criminal, be it the murderer of a journalist or an ordinary citizen. It is not possible. Given the close and honest relationship between our two countries, it is difficult to imagine such behaviour,” he said.
BACKGROUND

On March 7th, 2008 IRFS received a reply from the National Security Ministry to its inquiry of February 20th. The letter was signed by the Head of the Investigation Department Movlan Shikhaliyev

The letter notes that based on evidence gathered in the murder investigation, two Georgian citizens, Tahir Khubanov Bayram and Aliyev Teymuraz Adil, are suspects, and a search warrant has been issued. The members of the Investigative Operation Group have been sent to Georgia four times in connection with this case. The letter also emphasizes that an active investigation is still being carried out.
 
On February 20th, IRFS sent an appeal to NSM Minister Eldar Mahmudov asking him for information on the progress of the murder investigation. Elmar Huseynov was murdered on March 2nd, 2005, and his murder remains unsolved.