Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TBILISI2990
2007-11-29 13:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tbilisi
Cable title:
FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER IRAKLI OKRUASHVILI
how-toVZCZCXRO8901 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSI #2990 3331351 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 291351Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY TBILISI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8329 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS TBILISI 002990
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER IRAKLI OKRUASHVILI
ARRESTED IN GERMANY
REF: TBILISI 2719
UNCLAS TBILISI 002990
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER IRAKLI OKRUASHVILI
ARRESTED IN GERMANY
REF: TBILISI 2719
1. (SBU) Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili was
arrested November 27 in Berlin. An Interpol warrant was
issued for him at the request of Georgian law enforcement
after he retracted his confession and failed to attend a
court hearing in November in Tbilisi. Okruashvili left
Georgia November 1 (reftel) under government pressure. A
Berlin state prosecutor's office spokesman said it was not
decided if Okruashvili would be held in custody pending
extradition. The spokesman said the Georgian government has
40 days to file the rationale for extradition and provide
documentation to German authorities. The Germans plan a
court hearing on November 29. Iason Chikhradze, former Head
of Procurement at the Defense Ministry under Okruashvili, has
also been detained.
2. (SBU) The German Ambassador to Georgia told Ambassador on
November 28 that the extradition process could take many
months as it is possible Okruashvili will seek political
asylum in Germany. Okruashvili's wife and children are in
Georgia but are known to be seeking visas to the U.K.
TEFFT
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR DAS BRYZA AND EUR/CARC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GG
SUBJECT: FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER IRAKLI OKRUASHVILI
ARRESTED IN GERMANY
REF: TBILISI 2719
1. (SBU) Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili was
arrested November 27 in Berlin. An Interpol warrant was
issued for him at the request of Georgian law enforcement
after he retracted his confession and failed to attend a
court hearing in November in Tbilisi. Okruashvili left
Georgia November 1 (reftel) under government pressure. A
Berlin state prosecutor's office spokesman said it was not
decided if Okruashvili would be held in custody pending
extradition. The spokesman said the Georgian government has
40 days to file the rationale for extradition and provide
documentation to German authorities. The Germans plan a
court hearing on November 29. Iason Chikhradze, former Head
of Procurement at the Defense Ministry under Okruashvili, has
also been detained.
2. (SBU) The German Ambassador to Georgia told Ambassador on
November 28 that the extradition process could take many
months as it is possible Okruashvili will seek political
asylum in Germany. Okruashvili's wife and children are in
Georgia but are known to be seeking visas to the U.K.
TEFFT