October 30, 2012 - 15:52 AMT
Georgian Minister to monitor MP’s Armenian niece murder case

Georgia’s new Minister of Internal Affairs Irakli Garibashvili has taken personal control of the murder case of an Armenian girl, according to the Ministry’s official website.

“Every resource and effort will be used to discover Barbara Rafalyants’ murder,” the statement said.

On Sept 30, a 10-month-old baby, Barbara Rafalyants, was killed in the Georgian village of Kolaga, having been found drowned in a wine pitcher following a kidnapping.

The baby’s aunt being Manana Berikashvili, the majoritarian candidate of the Georgian Dream oppositional coalition, the murder triggered a number of accusations against the United National Movement ruling party.

In this connection, Ms. Berikashvili was demanding the arrest of her main opponent from United National Movement Giorgi Ghviniashvili, believing him to be the main suspect in the crime.

On Oct 1, the Georgian Dream coalition led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili won 85 seats to 65 for Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement.