BEFORE BEING KILLED, ITALIAN JOURNALIST HAD EXPOSED RUSSIANS' USING OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPON IN CHECHNYA
"Greens" started talking about the version of italian journalists' murder

The Georgian Times - Editorial - October 31, 2000

italiano

Murder of an Italian journalist, Radio "Radicale correspondent Antonio Russo have diminished once again rating of Georgia. It is dangerous to stay in Georgia - such conclusion may be made by any foreigner who appeared to know about the murder.
Antonio Russo was found dead and robbed in Tbilisi outskirts. The same day his flat door was also broken. According to the medical expertise conclusion there were signs of violence on the deceased. The version of robbery was considered less reliable by Georgian media from the very beginning. From Russo's flat disappeared mostly the materials connected woth his work. Ten days after the murder the Georgian Greens started talking about the most sensational version of the accident.

As the Georgian Greens prove the Italian journalist fell victim to his information about using new chemical and biological wapon by Russians in the war in Chechnya. On 25-26 September in Tbilisi on the initiative of the Chechen Greens the Georgian Greens' Party and Chechen Greens organization held a joint international congress. At the congress they discussed the questions concerning the catastrophic condition in the Caucasian region caused by the wars.
The representatives of the USA, Germany and other countries took part in it. Among the attendees there was Antonio Russo.
The major accent in the Congress was turned to Chechnya.
Russo's speech at the congress was most acute. As Georgian Greens' chairman Gia Gachechiladze mentions the topic of new military weapons by Russia in Chechnya.
Russo confirmed the information on using bacteriological weapons in Shatili and Arghuni regions.
He put forward allegations against the Russian authorities for violating the international convention.
Russo also said that he was a witness of people with their hands cut off by bullets of a new type.
Giorgi Gachechiladze says Russo possessed real documents proving this information.
Russo mentioned at the Congress that he would do his best to release this information wordlwide. Italian journalist was a member or Transnational Radical Party, which is widely represented in the European Parliament. The newspaper "7dghe" mentions that last December Chechen representative replaced an Italian representative of this party at UN session, which caused great agitation. Then Russia raises a question to ezclude Italian representative from the UN.
Two weeks later the Congress in Tbilisi (10 October), the Foreign Ministry of Russian Federation sent a note to its Georgian countpart with the protest on anti-Russian statements made at the Congress, and a week later Russo was murdered.
Gia Gachechiladze mentions the fact of using strange weapons by Russia in Chechnyua as well. He points to the official document, Russian Duma resolution of 17 March 2000 signed by Duma resolution of 17 March 2000 signed by Duma speaker Selezniev. According to the resolution the commission conclusion proves the heavy, catastrophic consequences of the war in Chechnya.

"The conclusion pulished officially by Russia is more acute than the one adopted by our Congrss", says Gachechiladze.
Prosecutor's office of Georgia considers the version put forward by the Georgian Greens to be one of the versions and not the only one.
The investigation is still going on concerning the case of a 40 years old Antonio Russo's murder.
The general prosecutor's office is investigating the case and soon the Italian law enforces will join the process of investigation. We should hope the murder of the Italian journalist would be uncovered soon, says the general prosecutors.