Ex-Defense Minister allegedly pressured to deliver money to Ivanishvili, says opposition leader

Levan Khabeishvili, chair of the opposition partyUnited National Movement's political council, claims that former Georgian Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze was detained for an entire day and released only under the condition that he delivers a specific sum of money to the ruling party's founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili.

“Burchuladze’s deputy is in custody, his close relative is also detained. A few days ago, I predicted that Burchuladze himself would be arrested. We now see a tightening circle around him,” Khabeishvili said in a press statement. “My information suggests Burchuladze was held all day yesterday and released only because he agreed to bring the ‘cash’ to Bidzina. His freedom now depends on whether he delivers that sum. If he doesn’t, he will follow the fate of his deputy and relative.”

According to Khabeishvili, the situation surrounding Burchuladze is rapidly worsening and a criminal investigation against him could soon become public.

Recently, Georgia's State Security Service (SSS) arrested Burchuladze’s former deputy Giorgi Khaindrava, along with a former procurement department head and a relative of the ex-minister, on allegations of embezzling over 1.3 million GEL ($470,000) in state funds.