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Pathologist Arrested In Probe Of Georgian Premier's Death


Then-Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania at an event in Washington in 2004
Then-Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania at an event in Washington in 2004
TBILISI -- Georgian officials have arrested a forensic pathologist who examined the body of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania after his suspicious death in 2005.

Levan Chachua was charged on March 21 with negligence in his examination of the bodies of Zhvania and his friend Raul Usupov, who were both found dead on February 3, 2005.

SEE ALSO: 'New Evidence' Comes To Light Concerning Zurab Zhvania's Death

The arrest comes two days after autopsy photos were leaked on the Internet of Zhvania's body that allegedly show bruises and other small marks on it.

Chachua, who was head of the National Forensics Bureau, declared that both had died of carbon-monoxide poisoning caused by a defective heater.

Chachua was questioned by police for several hours on March 20 before his arrest the following day.

Zhvania's family and some politicians have long criticized the official version of the prime minister's death and allege he was assassinated.

With reporting by dfwatch.net

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