Prosecutors to indict ex-leader of Georgia

Georgia's chief prosecutor's office has stated that it will officially indict former president Mikhail Saakashvili and several former officials.

"Since Mikhail Saakashvili failed to appear at the investigative agency, he will be indicted through a lawyer in accordance with the legislation," the office said.

It added that an indictment would also be filed against former defense minister Davit Kezerashvili and former chief prosecutor Zurab Adeishvili for their avoidance of questioning.

In March, Saakashvili was summoned by the chief prosecutor's office for questioning in relation to investigations of alleged criminal cases by high-ranking officials under his administration. In July, the former president was summoned for the second time and failed to show up.

The Georgian chief prosecutor's office filed charges on Monday against Saakashvili, accusing him of exceeding official authorities during his terms.

The former president was charged in connection with a massive crackdown on demonstrators in November 2007, a forced break-in of an opposition television station, and the seizure of the property of a high-profile dissident.

Besides Adeishvili and Kezerashvili, Monday's charges also involved former interior minister Vano Merabishvili and Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava.

The statement said these former officials under Saakashvili's administration had aimed at taking over the Imedi TV owned by Arkadi Patarkatsishvili and had been ready to trade the state-owned Georgian Railway to the billionaire for his opposition television station.

The chief prosecutor's office said that it was in violation of law for the former president to have issued orders cracking down on the protesters and deploying army units in central Tbilisi.

(China Daily 07/30/2014 page11)