Law Enforcers Accused of Spaniard Abduction

(Tbilisi, January 22, Civil Georgia) Antonio Rodriguez, brother of one of the Spanish businessmen abducted in Georgia in November 2000 says Georgian police and security officials took part in crime.

Antonio Rodriguez, speaking to the independent Rustavi 2 TV company said he is “afraid to name” the officials involved in abduction, although he mentioned that these were high-level officials “of Shevardnadze government.”

Two Spaniards were freed on December 8, 2001 after spending 373 days in captivity. Spanish press reported that some 300,000 Euro was paid in ransom. Georgian police denied the claim.