Former Georgian interior minister connected to prison scandal arrested
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 6 November 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Former Georgian interior minister connected to prison scandal arrested, 6 November 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/50b4d0a4c.html [accessed 29 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
November 06, 2012
By RFE/RL's Georgian Service
Bacho Akhalaia
TBILISI – Georgia's former Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaia has been arrested on abuse of office charges.
Akhalaia's lawyer told journalists in Tbilisi that prosecutors questioned Akhalaia for three hours on November 6 about the "improper treatment of certain individuals."
No additional details were given. Akhalaia is expected to remain in pre-trial detention.
Akhalaia resigned in September, shortly after videos emerged showing prison inmates being beaten and sexually abused by guards.
A guard who said he leaked the videos also claimed that Akhalaia was behind the order to videotape the abuse.
Akhalaia, a close ally of President Mikheil Saakashvili, left Georgia shortly after the country's parliamentary elections October 1.
He reappeared in the country on November 5, saying he is ready to answer what he called the "idiotic" and "absurd" allegations" against him.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
