Sanaia’s Murderer Sentenced to 13 Years

(Tbilisi, July 9, 2003, Civil Georgia) – The court sentenced Grigol Khurtsilava, who was charged of murder of leading Georgian TV journalist Giorgi Sanaia, to 13 years imprisonment.

Giorgi Sanaia, popular TV anchor was shot dead in his apartment in Tbilisi on July 26, 2001. The police arrested Grigol Khurtsilava in December, 2001 for murder charges.

During the trial Khurtsilava plead guilty and said that the sexual abuse from Giorgi Sanaia was the reason of the murder.

However the family of Giorgi Sanaia cast doubts regarding the investigation, insisting on political motives of the assassination.

The court ruled that due to insufficient evidence it is impossible to find out motives of the crime.