Georgian rebel minister waits for French asylum in German prison
Published: 06 January, 2008, 06:51
Georgia's former Defence Minister and opponent of Mikhail Saakashvili, Irakly Okruashvili, will have to remain in detention in Germany for another two weeks. He was arrested at the request of Georgian authorities and was due to be released on Saturday.
Okruashvili is now seeking political asylum in France. The German courts will not make any decision on his extradition until he receives an answer from the French authorities.
Last September Okruashvili accused then President Mikhail Saakashvili of criminal activity, including plotting political killings.
After being charged with corruption himself, a development which sparked mass protests in Georgia, Okruashvili retracted all allegations.
He was released on bail of $US 6 million and immediately left Georgia for Germany.
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