Ex-Refugee Minister Arrested

Former Minister for Refugees and Accommodation Valeri Vashakidze was arrested on September 8 for alleged misuse of power, Prosecutor?s Office of the capital city Tbilisi reported.

Officials say that Vashakidze, who served as Minister of Refugees and Accommodation in 1995-2003, is suspected of issuing fake IDs of internal displaced persons (IDP); as a result more than 2,000 people were receiving IDP allowances illegally.

According to the Prosecutor?s Office, because of the fake IDP IDs the state budget suffered damage at 1,1 million Lari (approximately USD 648,000).