TBILISI -- Former Georgian Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili, who is currently in custody, says prosecutors have tried to force him to inform on former President Mikheil Saakashvili.
Merabishvili, who was secretary-general of Saakashvili's United National Movement party, told a court hearing on December 17 that he was hooded and taken from his cell over the weekend and told by the chief prosecutor to divulge information about bank accounts belonging to Saakashvili in exchange of being allowed to freely leave Georgia.
Merabishvili said he was also asked for information on the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who purportedly died of carbon-monoxide poisoning in 2005.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili dismissed Merabishvili's statements, calling them "unserious."
Merabishvili was arrested in May and charged with abuse of power, embezzlement, and covering up a murder. He denies any wrongdoing.
Merabishvili, who was secretary-general of Saakashvili's United National Movement party, told a court hearing on December 17 that he was hooded and taken from his cell over the weekend and told by the chief prosecutor to divulge information about bank accounts belonging to Saakashvili in exchange of being allowed to freely leave Georgia.
Merabishvili said he was also asked for information on the death of former Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, who purportedly died of carbon-monoxide poisoning in 2005.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili dismissed Merabishvili's statements, calling them "unserious."
Merabishvili was arrested in May and charged with abuse of power, embezzlement, and covering up a murder. He denies any wrongdoing.
