From: MSN Nicknamepsychoteddybear24 (Original Message) Sent: 9/28/2007 7:22 AM
GEORGIAN EX-MINISTER ARRESTED AFTER DENOUNCING PRESIDENT
Police swoop following former minister Irakli Okruashvili’s lurid allegations
about the Georgian president.
By David Paichadze in Tbilisi
Former Georgian defence minister Irakli Okruashvili was arrested on September
27, two days after dramatically denouncing his ex-ally and boss, President
Mikheil Saakashvili.
Okruashvili was detained in the offices of his newly-formed party, the Movement
for a United Georgia. He was charged with four criminal offences – extortion,
money laundering, abuse of office and “exceeding professional duties”.
According to his lawyer, he denies all the charges.
His driver and several of his bodyguards were also arrested. Police searched
Okruashvili’s apartment and family home.
Around 200 of the former minister’s supporters gathered outside the new party’s
headquarters to protest against the arrest, and his political allies called for
a public protest outside parliament on September 28.
Government critics appeared on ...
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