03 February 2005, 23:17
Opposition urges unbiased investigation of Zhvania's death
Leader of the opposition Georgian Labor Party Shalva Natelashvili thinks that the death of prime minister Zurab Zhvania may be linked to the struggle within power structures. Shalva Natelashvili noted that in the Georgian government, there were three groups, headed by president Mikhail Saakashvili, premier Zurab Zhvania and chair of the parliament Nino Burdzhanadze. "There was fierce and ruthless struggle between those groups as they distributed between themselves both finances and seats in the government," he said. In the opinion of the laborites' leader, there will be changes in the country's political life after Zhvania's death. Shalva Natelashvili considers that "in this stage, it's early to propose any versions of the happening since they can hamper the revelation of truth."
Preliminary results of Georgian prime minister Zurab Zhvania's blood test confirm the version that he died from carbon monoxide poisoning, expert Irina Tandilashvili told journalists. The excess level of carboxyhemoglobin in the blood has been established, she explained. "The normal level of this substance in the blood is from 5 to 10 percent, and the level exceeding 20% causes death. The exact level of carboxyhemoglobin (in Zhvania's blood) will be established on Friday," the expert added.
