Russia Demands Explanations over Berezovsky’s Visit to Georgia

The Russian Foreign Ministry delivered on December 3 a note to Ambassador of Georgia to Russia Zurab Abashidze, demanding explanations over the arrival of tycoon Boris Berezovsky in Tbilisi.

Boris Berezovsky, who is wanted by the Russian authorities for fraud allegations, arrived in Tbilisi with false documents registered in the name of Platon Yelevin.

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the Georgian authorities to explain why the Georgian law-enforcement agencies did not take any measures to detain and extradite Berezovsky to the Russian side.

Chairman of the Georgian Border Guard Department Valerie Chkheidze said on December 3, “check-up confirmed that both the passport and visa were not faked, this person, as well as Berezovsky himself, is not wanted by the Georgian authorities.

He resembled Boris Berezovsky very much, however he had another name. Hence, the border guards had no reason to detain him.”

Boris Berezovsky stayed in Tbilisi for 5 hours and met, as he said, with his “friend” and former aide Badri Patarkatsishvili. Tbilisi-based media tycoon Patarkatsishvili is also wanted by Russia for fraud allegations.

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