Ex-Chief of Forestry Department Accuses Interior Minister

In a telephone interview from Germany with the Tbilisi-based Rustavi 2 television former Chief of Georgian Forestry Department Bidzina Giorgobiani accused Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili of being involved in an intimidation campaign against Giorgobani that was carried out by officials from the Security Service, which is under the Interior Ministry?s subordination.

Giorgobiani, who fled Georgia earlier this week, claims in a video tape, recorded and distributed to the Georgian television stations shortly before his departure, that officials from the Security Service fabricated a criminal case against him after he uncovered a scheme by Security Service officials to appropriation funds by illegally selling timber.

?Yesterday, Vano Merabishvili [the Interior Minister] phoned me and told me that he was not aware of this. But he is lying, he knew everything about what his employees were doing against me,? Bidzina Giorgobiani said.

In a short comment made while speaking with reporters on March 17 Interior Minister Merabishvili denied Giorgobiani?s allegations as ?a lie.?

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