Reuters: Georgian Investigators in London Re Patarkatsishvili Case

Georgian investigators are in London in connection with charges brought by the Georgian General Prosecutor?s Office against business tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, Reuters reported, citing an unnamed source in the Georgian Interior Ministry.

?Patarkatsishvili is charged with plotting a coup, attempting to give a bribe and so on, and he committed these crimes in London,? Reuters quoted the anonymous source as saying. ?These actions are punishable in the United Kingdom as well.?

Shota Khizanishvili, an Interior Ministry spokesman, however, told Civil.Ge that he could not confirm the Reuters’ story. The General Prosecutor?s Office has also made an official denial.

The General Prosecutor?s Office charged Patarkatsishvili on January 10 with conspiring to overthrow the government and plotting and planning two separate ?terrorist acts?, one of which was allegedly aimed at Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.

Patarkatsishvili was remanded in custody for two months by Tbilisi City Court – in absentia – on January 15 and the following day placed on a Georgian police wanted list.

Patarkatsishvili contested the January 5 presidential election, winning 7.1% of the vote.

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