Georgians Arrested for Assassination Attempt Against Turkmenistan President

(Tbilisi, November 26, 2002, Civil Georgia) As unconfirmed sources inform, spokesman of the Turkmenistan Foreign Ministry stated that among 16 persons, arrested in connection with assassination attempt against President Niyazov, four mercenaries are not Turkmenistan citizens and are ethnic Georgians. However sources did not clarify whether these four are Georgian citizens.

Paata Gomelauri, head of PR department of the Georgian Interior Ministry, told Civil Georgia that the Turkmenistan side has not inquired Tbilisi in this connection so far. As Gomelauri said, if the Turkmenistan authorities request cooperation, information or any other kind of collaboration regarding this case, the Georgian law enforcers will provide full assistance to their counterparts in accordance with all relevant international norms.

Georgian State Security Ministry informs that invovlment of ethnic Goegrians or Georgian citizens in the assassination attempt is not confirmed.

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