TBILISI, July 23 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) - The Tbilisi Prosecutor's Office brought charges against Vladimir Arutyunyan, 27, a suspect in the May attempted attack on U.S. and Georgian presidents, Friday. The Georgian Interior Ministry said that Arutyunyan was accused of illegal making and keeping of firearms, armed resistance during the detention and the murder of a policeman.
The ministry also said that Arutyunyan had refused to give evidence and hire a lawyer. Public lawyer Khatuna Kutateladze, 23, whose career began 1.5 years ago, will defend the suspect.
"I will prove his innocence if he wants it,' she told journalists Friday.
The lawyer has already met with the defendant but he had not informed her of all the facts of his case.
If his guilt is proved, Arutyunyan will face life imprisonment.
Arutyunyan was detained on July 20 during a special operation in a Tbilisi's suburb after he shot and killed the head of the Georgian anti-terrorist center.
Arutyunyan was wounded during the operation and taken to the Georgian Republic Hospital.
During the July 10 rally on Tbilisi's Freedom Square, an unknown man threw a grenade wrapped in a red cloth at the podium where the U.S. and Georgian presidents and their spouses were standing.
