Bulgarian "Wanted" Over Bush Assault in Georgia

Politics | June 27, 2005, Monday // 00:00
Bulgarian "Wanted" Over Bush Assault in Georgia Georgian TV station has reported that that a Bulgarian national is wanted over the failed attempt to detonate a grenade on May 10 while US President George Bush was addressing the crowds in Tbilisi's central square. Photo by WN

Georgia's Rustavi-2 TV has claimed that a Bulgarian national is wanted over the failed attempt to detonate a grenade on May 10 while US President George Bush was addressing the crowds in Tbilisi's central square.

Security services are believed to have identified the suspect from a photograph taken by an unnamed man sitting in a stand for specially invited guests during Bush's speech.

The grenade landed 30 m away from where Bush spoke to a huge crowd in Tbilisi, but did not detonate, according to the Georgian authorities. The US Secret Service said it received reports of the incident after Bush had left the ex-Soviet republic.

On Friday the Georgian authorities announced the results of investigation into the alleged attempt on G.W. Bush's life during his visit to Georgia last month.

There are two versions of the case. According to one version the nationality of the assaulter is not determined, but the police has his photo and he is currently being retrieved. According to the second version the grenade was thrown by a Russian serviceman, who allegedly tried to leave the country, but fell into "the hands of Americans".

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a late evening briefing on June 22 that Georgian authorities had identified a person suspected of throwing the hand-grenade during US President George Bush's address on May 10.

Stressing that Georgia has only political opponents rather than enemies inside the country, Saakashvili stated, "I don't know what to call anyone who would throw a hand-grenade during George Bush's visit to Georgia, nor in what country it is possible such people could be born," he stated.

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