Former Minister Valeri Vashakidze Detained

Former Minister Valeri Vashakidze Detained

Tbilisi. 08.09.04. Media News. Law enforcers have detained Valeri Vashakidze, Minister of Refugees and Resettlement. He is charged with issuing false Ids, thus inflicting damage of 1.100.000GEL to the state.

In regard to the investigation conducted by the General Prosecution Giorgi Gviniashvili, Head of the Supervisory Department stated that on September 2, a criminal case was brought against the officials of the ministry for abuse of power in the years 1998-2004. The case rests on materials, which had been sent to the General Prosecutor’s Office by the Ministry of Refugees and Resettlement.

According to information that emerged in a 1998 investigation, Vashakidze passed an order in violation of the Georgian law on IDPs during his tenure as Minister. This order allowed 2002 persons to illegally receive IDP status. Overall, these persons are supposed to have received about 1.100.000GEL from the state budget from 1998 till May 2004.

According to Giorgi Gviniashvili the former minister pled guilty. He is charged with abuse of power, which could be punished with 3 to 7 years of imprisonment.

The current Minister of Refugees and Resettlement, Eter Astemirova, confirms that the Prosecution has received the 1998 documentation from the Ministry. Astemirova continues to state that according to her knowledge, Valerie Vashakidze had signed the order in question during that period. The order enabled the wives of men who got married after they became IDPs to be granted IDP status.