Georgian Police Arrest Suspect for Murder of American Tourist

TELAVI, Georgia – Georgian police have arrested a 20-year-old man suspected of killing an American male tourist Thursday night in the country’s eastern Kakheti region.

On Saturday, Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) released a statement saying a 40-year-old US citizen - who had just returned from the isolated mountain region of Tusheti - was stabbed to death on August 12 by a young local man following a dispute.

The MIA’s report said the incident took place on a road near Lechuri, a remote village at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains.

The suspect immediately fled the scene, but was arrested only a few hours after the incident. According the statement police confiscated a knife from the detainee, who has admitted his guilt and cooperating with the authorities.

If found guilty the suspect could face up to 15 years in prison for premeditated murder.