Georgia to Reopen U.S. Diplomat Murder Case

Georgian authorities changed earlier position and decided to reinvestigate murder case of Freddy Woodruff, an officer of the political department of the US Embassy in Tbilisi, who was assassinated in Georgia more than ten years ago.

?The [Georgian] General Prosecutor?s Office intends to reopen murder case of the American diplomat. I have discussed the issue with General Prosecutor [Zurab Adeishvili]. We want to carry out open and transparent investigation of this case,? President Mikheil Saakashvili said on January 22, while addressing session of the Georgian National Security Council.

He also said that representatives from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation should participate in the investigation as well.

Freddy Woodruff, who reportedly was a CIA agent, was shot in August 1993 in his car outside Tbilisi. Police arrested Georgian serviceman Anzor Sharmaidze, who was accused of Woodruff?s murder and consequently sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment.

Last May, Michael Pullara, the lawyer who represents the family of Freddy Woodruff, appealed the Georgian General Prosecutor?s Office with the request to reopen the case; however, the Georgian side rejected this appeal.