Minister Accuses Defense Officials of Abuse of Office, Misappropriation of Funds

Newly appointed Defense Minister is talking tough, demanding the arrest of those who “pushed the Georgian army into a worse situation than it was before the [Rose] Revolution.”

Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili said at a news briefing on January 4 that the situation involving a misappropriation of funds in the Defense Ministry is “alarming” and requested the General Prosecutor’s Office to bring criminal charges against several officials, including former Deputy Defense Minister Paata Gaprindashvili.

The Defense Minister listed the names of those officials who are allegedly responsible for this misappropriation of funds and for, as he put it, “pushing the Georgian army into a worse situation than it was before the [Rose] Revolution.”