08 October 2007, 18:49
Okruashvili's evidences are a surprise for Georgian opposition
The evidences given by Irakliy Okruashvili, former Minister of Defence of Georgia and now the leader of the opposition party "For United Georgia," have stirred up the Georgian society.
The opposition was unanimous in linking the words of the leader of the "For United Georgia" Party with the pressure exerted on him. At the same time, the Georgian authorities, on the contrary, feel much more confident and declare that if Okruashvili has made his statements under pressure, he will be free to make his comment when being at large.
Irakliy Okruashvili's advocates are also asserting that his confessions were "knocked out" of their client.
We note here that Eka Beseliya, one of Okruashvili's defenders, has visited today Prison No. 7, where Mr Okruashvili is kept, but, under the instruction of the Prosecutor's Office, she was not let to meet him in person.
"It's an unprecedented fact in the world's advocacy. We, Okruashvili's advocates, were not allowed to be present when he gave his evidences," Ms Beseliya concluded in her talk with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
We remind you that at his interrogation at the State Office of Public Prosecutor, Irakliy Okruashvili has declared that he had made his allegations against President Mikhail Saakashvili and his family with the aim "to discredit the head of the state". The interrogation at the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia took place on October 7. The video recording of Okruashvili's interrogation was broadcast by the "Rustavi-2" TV Company.
It was reported earlier that Okruashvili would be released from his pre-trial imprisonment on bail in the sum of 10 million laris (6 million US dollars).
Meanwhile, 61.3 percent of respondents in Georgia believe in the words of Irakliy Okruashvili and find his allegations against Mikhail Saakashvili to be truthful. This is the result of the public opinion poll in Georgia conducted by the "Kviris Palitra" (Week's Palette) newspaper.
Author: Edita Badasian, CK correspondent