26 September 2007, 18:01
Sakvarelidze: Okruashvili is under threat of arrest
Political scientist Ramaz Sakvarelidze believes that the statements of Irakliy Okruashvili in relation to Georgian authorities were a defence, not an attack.
"The elections are approaching; the competition among the parties becomes stronger. ...He's just started his campaign earlier than it was supposed. He was pushed to that by arrests of his adherents and supporters. Still I think that a threat of Okruashvili's arrest is real; he knows and understands it himself, that is why he has already started acting," Mr Sakvarelidze said to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
The performance of Irakliy Okruashvili, ex-Minister of Defence of Georgia, live on air of the "Imedi" (Hope) TV Company on September 25 has caused a resonance in the society. Mr Okruashvili has accused President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili and the ruling party of serious crimes.
"President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili has repeatedly ordered me to undertake liquidation of businessman Badri Patrkatsishvili. Beating of oppositional parliamentarian Valery Gelashvili was made by the people of Vano Merabishvili, Minister of Internal Affairs. The body of the deceased Prime Minister Zurab Zhvaniya was transported to the apartment where he allegedly got poisoned with gas," Irakliy Okruashvili, ex-Minister of Defence and now the leader of the opposition party named "Movement for United Georgia," has stated live on the air of the "Imedi" TV Company.
Also, Mr Okruashvili asserts that the authorities of the country had devised a secret plan of returning South Ossetia back into Georgia: "I mean a real detailed plan of seizing Tskhinval as a result of a small operation and without great losses. The operation was appointed for spring of 2006."
Author: Edita Badasian, CK correspondent
