Ex-official, now opposition leader Okruashvili, other former official charged in high-profile case
Irakli Okruashvili, who also served as prosecutor general and the minister of defence under the United National Movement leadership, is now in pretrial detention in a separate case. Photo: 1TV.
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Former Interior Minister and current opposition leader Irakli Okruashvili has been charged with misuse of authority in the high profile murder case of Buta Robakidze back in 2004, under the United National Movement leadership.
Former Chief Prosecutor Zurab Adeishviili has also faced a similar charge in the case.
Okruashvili is now in pretrial detention for “incitement to violence” during the June protests in Tbilisi earlier this year.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says that Robakidze and five others were stopped by a patrol police crew late on November 24, 2004. During a check a patrol officer’s accidentally went off, resulting in the death of Robakidze at the scene.
The Prosecutor’s Office reports that “to save the image of the patrol police [which was newly introduced in the country at that time] Okruashvili instructed his employees to say that Robakidze and five others in the car were armed and they attacked police.
To achieve the goal arms were planted in the car and Robakhidze and five others were declared as members of an armed, criminal group,” the Prosecutor’s Office says.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated that, through the instruction of former Chief Prosecutor Adeishvili, the five individuals in the car were charged with membership in a criminal group.
Okruashvili and Adeishvili [who is now wanted] face three to eight years in prison if the charge is confirmed.
Tbilisi City Court has left former Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili in pretrial detention, declining the offer of his lawyer on the payment of 500,000 GEL ($168,000) for bail.
One of the men accused of fabricating the crime scene of the death of Buta Robakidze in November 2004 has pled guilty and named his accomplices. At today’s court hearing Zura (Zaza) Bakradze said the weapon and ammunition that was put in Robakidze’s car were brought from police stations.
Tbilisi City Court has delivered a guilty verdict against five former police officials of the United National Movement government for the high profile murder case of 19-year-old Amiran (Buta) Robakidze in 2004.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation against four ex-Interior Ministry officials who allegedly exceeded official powers and exerted undue pressure on a person who was forced to commit premeditated murder.
Former Interior Minister and current opposition leader Irakli Okruashvili has been sent to pretrial detention in the high profile murder case of Buta Robakidze back in 2004, under the United National Movement leadership.
Former Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili, who also took other top posts under the United National Movement leadership, has been refused bail in a high-profile murder case of Buta Robakidze back in 2004.
The US Embassy to Georgia says that the recent arrest of former Defence Minister, and current opposition leader Irakli Okruashvili has raised concerns of political interference and the selective use of justice.