Tbilisi, 20 March 2006 (Civil Georgia - website) - In an interview with the Washington Post Georgia’s ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze said that he does not believe in an official government account of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania’s death.

“He was murdered,” Shevardnadze said told the Washington Post, but adding that he does not know by whom.

Zurab Zhvania was found dead on February 3. The Georgian authorities announced immediately that Zhvania died as a result of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning caused by a faulty gas heater. Officially, investigation of the case is not yet over.

Ex-President Shevardnadze recalled in the interview that Zhvania "used to call from time to time to ask advice."