Georgy Karkarashvili and his former deputy Paatu Datuashvili were attacked Wednesday morning. Datuashvili died from his wounds, and Karkarashvili was taken to a hospital. He was initially said to be comatose and in grave condition.
Itar-Tass said Karkarashvili recovered consciousness Thursday.
The Georgian state information agency in Tbilisi said Friday that police believed the attack was a "contract murder" and that the gunmen were probably from the separatist Georgian province of Abkhazia.
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