Irakli Okruashvili 1263778 217707347 2008-06-07T08:08:06Z 85.178.225.53 /* Arrest and emigration */ Please read civil.ge more precisely: He was granted asylum. Besides that he has a criminal proceeding about an extradition. {{Infobox Politician | name=Irakli Okruashvili | image=Irakli Okruashvili.jpg | width= 250px | birth_date = {{birth date|1973|11|6|mf=y}} | birth_place = {{flagicon|Georgian SSR}} [[Tskhinvali]], [[South Ossetian AO]], [[Georgian SSR]], [[USSR]] | spouse= | term_start = December 2004 | term_end = November 10, 2006 | predecessor = | successor = [[Davit Kezerashvili]] | office = Minister of Defense of Georgia | title2=Prosecutor General of Georgia | term_start2 = November 2003 | term_end2 = May 2004 | predecessor2 = | successor2 = | title3=Minister of the Interior of Georgia | term_start3 = May 2004 | term_end3 = December 2004 | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | title4=Minister of Economic Development of Georgia | term_start4 = November 10, 2006 | term_end4 = November 17, 2006 | predecessor4 = | successor4 = }} '''Irakli Okruashvili''' ([[Georgian language|Georgian]]: ირაკლი ოქრუაშვილი) (born [[6 November]] [[1973]]) is a [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]] politician who had served on various important posts in the [[Cabinet of Georgia|Government of Georgia]] under [[President of Georgia|President]] [[Mikheil Saakashvili]], including being the Minister of Defense from December 2004 until being dismissed in November 2006. In September 2007, he announced the creation of his oppositional party [[Movement for United Georgia]]. On [[September 27]], [[2007]], Okruashvili was arrested at his party headquarters on the charges of corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office.<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=15895 Okruashvili Arrested]. ''Civil Georgia''. 2007-09-27.</ref> In 2007 he left Georgia and was granted [[political asylum]] in [[France]]. == Political career == Irakli Okruashvili was born in [[Tskhinvali]], [[South Ossetian AO]], [[Georgian SSR]]. He graduated from Faculty of International Law and Relations at [[Tbilisi State University]]. He then worked as an attorney. ===In government=== Okruashvili served as the Deputy Minister of Justice from [[2000]] to [[2001]]. He joined [[Mikhail Saakashvili]]'s [[United National Movement]] and was elected as a member of [[Tbilisi Assembly]] (Sakrebulo) in [[2002]]. After the [[Rose Revolution]], Okruashvili was appointed the Person Authorized (governor) of the President of Georgia in [[Shida Kartli]] (to which breakaway [[South Ossetia]] is a [[de jure]] part) in November [[2003]] and established strong anti-corruption and anti-smuggling measures in the region. He served as the Prosecutor General from November [[2003]] to May [[2004]]. Saakashvili appointed him Interior Minister in May [[2004]] and moved him to the post of [[Defence Minister]] in December [[2004]]. During his tenure as defence minister, Okruashvili was known for advocating military actions against the separatists in [[South Ossetia]]. On [[October 16]], the Russian newspaper ''Versiya'' published an interview with Okruashvili. Okruashvili said Russia "would lose if the quarrel between the two countries escalates into a shooting war".<ref name=INTERVIEW>[http://washingtontimes.com/upi/20061017-015141-7010r.htm General: Russia wants no war with Georgia] The Washington Times</ref> The next day the Georgian Ministry of Defense denied that Okruashvili had participated in the interview.<ref name=CIVIL>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13880 MoD Denies Okruashvili's Russian Paper Interview] Civil Georgia</ref> In response, the Russian newspaper asserted that the interview took place and the audio recording of the conversation between the reporter Ruslan Gorevoy and Okruashvili is available.<ref name=CIVIL/> A short scandal followed to Okruashvili stating "even if you export – excuse me for this expression – feces to Russia it can be sold there” upon [[2006 Russian ban of Moldovan and Georgian wines|Russian ban of Georgian wine]].[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=12394] Okruashvili said on May 1 that he would resign if Georgia failed to restore control over breakaway South Ossetian by January 1, 2007.[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=12452] On [[November 10]], [[2006]] Saakashvili appointed him Minister for Economic Development. [[Davit Kezerashvili]] became the Minister of Defence.<ref name=ECON>[http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-11-10-voa37.cfm Georgian President Replaces Defense Minister] VOA News</ref>. Okruashvili resigned as Minister for Economic Development on [[17 November]] 2006.<ref name=RESIGNATION>[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav111706a.shtml Georgia: Former Defense Minister Submits "Shock" Resignation] EurasiaNet</ref> ===In opposition=== On [[September 25]], [[2007]], he announced the formation of the new opposition Movement for United Georgia and unleashed criticism on President Saakashvili, accusing him of corruption, incompetency and human rights violations. He also raised new concerns around [[Zurab Zhvania]]'s death, challenging the official investigation point of view <ref>[http://www.geotimes.ge/index.php?m=home&newsid=6946 Okruashvili Ups Ante on Former Allies] - ''The Georgian Times''</ref> and personally accused the Georgian president in planning the murder of businessman [[Badri Patarkatsishvili]]. <ref>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/09/95075e67-2429-48bd-8731-1591a00cb7f7.html Praise, Scorn For Accusations Against Georgia President]</ref><ref>[http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/26/ap4157991.html Georgia's Ex-Minister Assails President] - Forbes, Associated Press</ref> Speculations about Okruashvili's planned party had been circulating for a long time already and many commentators expected, what they called, “a war of compromising materials” in case of Okruashvili’s political comeback. The presentation was preceded by the controversies over financial irregularities surrounding the party's new office and the arrest of Mikheil Kareli, Orkuashvili's close associate and governor of Shida Kartli, on the charges of corruption.<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=15861 Okruashvili Breaks Silence by Lashing Out at Saakashvili]. ''Civil Georgia''. 2007-09-25.</ref> === Arrest and emigration === On [[September 27]], [[2007]], Okruashvili was detained on charges of extortion, money laundering, and abuse of office while Georgia's defense minister.<ref>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/09/2D3437D8-DFF1-4E8B-8411-7B7738FA60E3.html Former Defense Minister Detained In Georgia]. [[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]. [[September 27]], [[2007]].</ref> On [[September 28]], [[2007]], several opposition parties organized a peaceful mass rally in Okruashvili's support at the [[Parliament of Georgia]].<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=15904 Opposition Vows More Protests]. ''Civil Georgia''. 2007-09-28.</ref> On [[October 8]], [[2007]], in a video taped confession released by the General Prosecutor's Office, Okruashvili pleaded guilty to large-scale bribery through extortion and negligence while serving as minister and retracted his accusations against the president, winning release on bail of 10 million [[Georgian lari]]. He also said that his earlier accusations levelled against Saakashvili were not true and were aimed at gaining political dividends for himself and Badri Patarkatsishvili and at discrediting the President of Georgia. Some opposition leaders said Okruashvili's statement had been made under duress.<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=15975 Okruashvili May Be Freed on Bail after Pleading Guilty]. Civil Georgia, 2007-10-08.</ref><ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/08/europe/EU-GEN-Georgia-Opposition.php Court sets Georgia's former defense minister free on bail]. [[International Herald Tribune]]. [[October 8]], [[2007]].</ref> Okruashvili declared, however, that he had decided to cooperate with the investigation in order to "mitigate [his] situation".<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=15979 Okruashvili Hopes Guilty Plea will ‘Mitigate Situation’]. Civil Georgia, 2007-10-08.</ref> After he pledged guilty, Okruashvili was released on [[United States dollar|US$]]6 million bond and left Georgia because of health issues.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/02/AR2007110201877.html?hpid=sec-world Thousands Rally Against Pro-Western President of Georgia] - [[Washington Post]]</ref> On [[November 5]], [[2007]], Okruashvili made a surprise appearance on [[Imedi TV]] claiming that he was forced to retract accusations against President Saakashvili while being in jail.<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/detail.php?id=16200 Sidelined Okruashvili Back into Play]. Civil Georgia. 2007-11-06.</ref> A Georgian prosecuting officer, however, has rejected Okruashvili's allegations, while the senior members of the Parliament of Georgia for the ruling party have described him "an instrument in the hands of [[Badri Patarkatsishvili|Patarkatsishvili]]", a Georgian tycoon who finances the opposition rallies against the Georgian government.<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16207 Ruling Party Targets Tycoon in Drive to Confront Opposition]. Civil Georgia. 2007-11-06.</ref> On November 14, following a Prosecutor’s Office request, a court in Tbilisi ruled that Okruashvili be returned to police custody pending investigation.<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=16326 Court Order for Okruashvili's Detention]. Civil Georgia. 2007-11-14.</ref> He remained abroad, however. In December 2007, he was arrested in Germany at the request of Georgia, but was later transferred to [[France]] where a court has freed on bail and is set to examine Georgia's extradition request on [[April 16]] [[2008]]. In the meantime, a Georgian court found him guilty of "large-scale extortion" and sentenced him to 11 years in prison in absentia on [[March 28]] [[2008]].<ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17467 Okruashvili Jailed for 11 Years in Absentia, Barred from Polls]. ''Civil Georgia''. 2008-03-28.</ref> On [[April 23]] [[2008]] ha was granted political asylum. <ref>[http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=17670 France Grants Asylum to Okruashvili.] Civil Georgia. [[April 23]] [[2008]].</ref> == See also == *[[2007 Georgian demonstrations]] {{commonscat|Irakli Okruashvili}} ==References== {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Okruashvili, Irakli}} [[Category:1973 births]] [[Category:Georgian jurists]] [[Category:Georgian politicians]] [[Category:Living people]] [[de:Irakli Okruaschwili]] [[eo:Irakli Okruaŝvili]] [[fr:Irakli Okrouachvili]] [[he:אירקלי אוכרואשווילי]] [[ka:ირაკლი ოქრუაშვილი]] [[hu:Irakli Okruasvili]] [[pl:Irakli Okruaszwili]] [[ru:Окруашвили, Ираклий Кобаевич]] [[fi:Irakli Okruašvili]]