PM denies any ties of suspected assassin detained in Georgia w/ROA

Interfax
July 24 2005

PM denies any ties of suspected assassin detained in Georgia with
Armenia

TBILISI. July 24 (Interfax) – Armenian Prime Minister Andronik
Markarian has categorically denied that Vladimir Arutyunian suspected
of making an attempt on the life of U.S. President George W. Bush in
Tbilisi on May 10 has anything to do with Armenia or Armenians.

“Detained Vladimir Arutyunian is a national of Georgia and has no
ties with Armenia or Armenians. And the assumptions made by some
media are absolutely incomprehensible and inappropriate,” he told
reporters on Sunday at the beginning of his two day official visit to
Georgia.

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli accompanying his Armenian
counterpart told reporters that Arutyunian’s case “is absolutely
clear and the investigation will be completed very soon.” [AM GG
EUROPE EEU EMRG POL CRIM] ml