Former Georgian Defense Minister Charged With 'Forming An Armed Group'

Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili

Georgian prosecutors today charged fugitive opposition leader and former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili with setting up an armed group in his failed attempt to return to the country.

Last week, eight opposition supporters were also charged with forming an armed group to assist Okruashvili after he vowed to come back to Georgia during protest rallies in May.

Okruashvili later decided not to return, and opposition leaders said the charges against his alleged collaborators were fabricated.

Okruashvili, who went into opposition in 2007 and is living in France, was sentenced to 11 years in jail for corruption after he fled the country.

compiled from agency reports