Saakashvili Hailed Operation over Banker’s Release

President-elect Mikhail Saakashvili hailed today the special operation of the Georgian law-enforcement agencies, which led to release of kidnapped official of the United Georgian Bank.

Three persons, who have allegedly participated in kidnapping Tamaz Maghlakelidze, member of the board of trustees of the United Georgian Bank, were detained as a result of a joint operation conducted by the Interior and State Security Ministries near Tbilisi. One of them is employee of the Georgian Defense Ministry Lieutenant General Gia Vashakidze.

Mikheil Saakashvili said Lieutenant General Vashakidze is linked with former Georgian security chief Igor Giorgadze, who is wanted by the Georgian authorities for masterminding terrorist attack on Eduard Shevardnadze.

“It was a well-trained group, led by Lieut.-Gen. Gia Vashakidze – he is a good professional,” Giorgi Baramidze, Georgian Interior Minister said. He said that the police chase one alleged kidnapper who could escape.

“I want to tell everybody that the new authorities will maintain order in the country. Time when the criminals ruled in Georgia is over. The present authorities will crackdown on mafia and criminals,” Mikhail Saakashvili said at a news briefing on January 10.

“It was a well-trained group, led by Lieut.-Gen. Gia Vashakidze – he is a good professional,” Giorgi Baramidze, Georgian Interior Minister said. He said that the police chase one alleged kidnapper who could escape.

Tamaz Maghlakelidze was abducted at the gunpoint on December 5. Former hostage said after the release that he was kept by the kidnappers in the hole outside Tbilisi. Tamaz Maghlakelidze said that the kidnappers demanded ransom.

However, as officials and former hostage say, no ransom has been paid.