The court trial of Irakli Okruashvili, the exiled former Defense Minister of Georgia, who returned to Georgia this morning by Istanbul-Tbilisi flight, is beginning at Tbilisi City Court.
Okruashvili returned to Georgia accompanied by his uncle Ioseb Giguashvili. He was detained at the airport. Three lawyers will defend Okruashvili's interests in the court.
There are 4 charges presented against Okruashvili. The charges envisage imprisonment from 6 up to 12 years.
As press service of Georgian Party informed, "Okruashvili acknowledges that despite the result of today's process he has to remain imprisoned.
He is ready to continue to fight for truth from prison, appeal the illegal verdict against him and any other activity and prove his innocence and changes in the country give him that hope", the press service stated.
Okruashvili was sentenced to 11 years in prison on March28, 2008. "I had two objectives in my life: to get rid of Saakashvili and to return home," Okruashvili said in an interview with 9th Channel. MPs evaluated the return of Okruashvili as a natural event and welcoming fact. Okruashvili will be transferred to Gldani # 8 Prison.
The return of Irakli Okruashvili, Georgia's ex-defense minister to Georgia was the main topic of the press conference that Gia Khukhashvili, expert, gave at press club of Prime Time Newspaper this afternoon.
Khukhashvili said he believed that Okruashvili was an important witness in various ongoing investigations.
The expert also said that there were many questions over Okruashvili and that the periods of his being Defense Minister and General Prosecutor had to be particularly probed into.
Mikheil Kareli, former Governor of Georgia's Shida Kartli region and an ally of Irakli Okruashvili, Georgia's ex-Defense Minister, is presumably to return to Georgia.
Teo Tlashadze, a member of Georgian Party said that all people who are currently wanted by Interpol will return.
Kareli is accused of misappropriation of state funds, taking bribes and illegal participation in entrepreneur activities.