Former Georgian Defense Minister Arrested In France

Former Georgian Defense Minister David Kezerashvili

Former Georgian Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili has been arrested in France.

Georgian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Nino Giorgobiani said on October 15 that more details on Kezerashivili's arrest will be made public later.

In February, the Tbilisi City Court issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Kezerashvili, accusing him of corruption.

Kezerashvili, who is known as a close associate of Georgia's outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili, served as Georgia's defense minister between 2006 and 2008.

A number of investigations were launched against officials representing Saakashvili's United National Movement party after current Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition won parliamentary elections in October 2012.

Saakashvili will leave office after voters choose a new president on October 27.


Based on reporting by Rustavi and Novosti-Gruzia