Border Guard Commander Admits Berezovsky’s Trip was Illegal

Commander of the Georgian Border Guard Department Valeri Chkheidze admitted on December 5 that Georgian border guards should have detained Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky, as he arrived in Tbilisi on December 3.

Boris Berezovsky is wanted by Russia for fraud allegations. Chkheidze filed resignation, however acting President Nino Burjanadze rejected.

Georgian General Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal case on December 5 in connection with Boris Berezovsky’s visit to Georgia.

The Russian Foreign Ministry delivered on December 3 a note to Ambassador of Georgia to Russia Zurab Abashidze, demanding explanations over the arrival of tycoon Boris Berezovsky in Tbilisi.

The Russian Foreign Ministry urged the Georgian authorities to explain why the Georgian law-enforcement agencies did not take any measures to detain and extradite Berezovsky to the Russian side.

Commander of the Georgian Border Guard Department was claiming on December 3 Berezovsky’s overnight trip to Georgia was legal and the Georgian side had no grounds to arrest him. 

Border Guard chief said that Boris Berezovsky stayed in Tbilisi for 5 hours and then returned to London on the plane, owned by the Tbilisi-based media tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, who is also wanted by Russia for fraud allegations.

Reasons of Berezovsky’s mysterious visit to Georgia still remain unknown, however later Berezovsky said that he met his “old friend Badri Patarkatsishvili in Tbilisi” and as he said there was nothing illegal in this trip.

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