Georgia’s ex-Defense Minister released on bailJanuary 12, 2013 - 10:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, arrested upon his return from exile in France to Georgia in November, has been released from custody on bail with good prospects for complete exoneration as early as next week, RIA Novosti reported. Okruashvili, who originally faced four criminal charges, was set free on a $9,000 bail by the Tbilisi City Court on Friday in a case involving charges of negligence while serving as defense minister in 2004-2006. He was cleared of bribery and extortion charges by an appeals court on Thursday. He is still facing charges of forming an illegal armed group and his negligence case is still pending, but chances are all charges against the former minister will be dropped as almost all witnesses who initially testified against Okruashvili have retracted their statements citing that they were coerced into testifying against him. Okruashvili, who was considered President Saakashvili’s close ally before quitting the cabinet in November 2006, made a surprising return to Georgian politics a year later, leveling serious accusations against Saakashvili and announcing plans to form an opposition party. Okruashvili accused Saakashvili, in particular, of setting up corrupt commercial deals to benefit his family, plotting to seize South Ossetia by force, and ordering the assassination of Georgian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili. Georgian authorities arrested Okruashvili in September 2007 and charged him with abuse of office, money laundering, and corruption. However, he was later released on a $6-mln bail and left the country to settle in France where he was granted political asylum. Okruashvili was sentenced in absentia to 11-year prison term in Georgia on extortion charges in March 2008. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |