Kitsmarishvili family excludes suicide
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Monday, June 27
The family of the late founder of Rustavi 2 and Georgia’s ex-Ambassador to Russia, Erosi Kitsmarishvili, strongly opposes the conclusion of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office that the man committed suicide two years ago.
The Chief Prosecutor’s Office stated on June 22 that Erosi Kitsmarishvili purchased a gun and committed a suicide in his own car. The Office claimed that outstanding bank loans could were a significant motivation.
Zurab Kitsmarishvili, Erosi Kitsmarishvili’s brother, discussed "suspicious circumstances which indicate that Erosi Kitsmarishvili did not commit suicide" in his interview with palitratv.ge.
According to him, his brother had suspected that an attack might be carried out against him, and it was for this reason he bought the weapon that was found later in the car near his body.
"He told his friend on 8 July 2014 that he needed a gun. I think this was related to his activities. He had a real sense and expectation for an attack, or violence, and maybe for that reason he bought a gun,” said Zurab Kitsmarishvili.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office said last week it had concluded its investigation into the 2014 death of Erosi Kitsmarishvili.
Kitsmarishvili was found dead in his car in an underground carpark at his Vake home in central Tbilisi on July 15, 2014.
He had a single gunshot wound to the head.
The case was initially ruled as a suicide but Kitsmarishvili’s family and friends disagreed with this version of events, despite the fact the victim purchased a gun two days before his death.
In its statement, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that Kitsmarishvili’s death was self-inflicted.
The Office said at the time that Kitsmarishvili was in a difficult situation with debts, and claimed this was the reason behind his death.
The Office said Kitsmarishvili had bank loans worth €312,000 and 120,000 GEL ($54.000). His flat in Vake was also heavily mortgaged.
The Prosecutor’s Office said they questioned about 600 people, conducted dozens of examinations, studied Kitsmarishvili’s mobile phone and his personal computer information and from this concluded his death was a suicide.
