Ex-Railway Chief Accused of Misappropriation of $216,000

Ex-chief of the state-owned Georgian Railway Company and former ally of Eduard Shevardnadze Akaki Chkhaidze was formally accused by the Interior Ministry of tax evasion. 

The Interior Ministry claims Chkhaidze, who was arrested in Adjarian capital Batumi on January 16, misappropriated 476,000 Lari (approximately $216,000). However, Interior Minister Giorgi Baramidze said on January 16, ?investigation will reveal that more funds were misappropriated by Chkhaidze.?

Akaki Chkhaidze denies accusation. ?This is a political persecution. I will prove that I am not guilty,? Akaki Chkhaidze told reporters after he was brought in Tbilisi.