EU support car explodes in Georgia, killing one

The driver of a medical support vehicle accompanying EU monitors has been killed in an explosion in the west of Georgia. A doctor has been severely injured.

The monitors’ convoy was traveling in the village of Muzhava – several hundred meters away from the Abkhaz Gali district – on Sunday morning, when an anti-tank mine exploded under the car, which was carrying medics working for the EU observer mission.

The driver, Tenzig Akhaladze died. Gega Patiashvili, one of the doctors, was severely wounded and remains in hospital.

The medics’ vehicle was traveling with an EU observer car, which was only slightly damaged by the blast. None of the EU monitors were hurt in the attack.

The EU monitors came to the Tsalendzhikhi and Zugdidi districts of Georgia in October 2008.