Former Defence Minister of Georgia not allowed to return: President Saakashvili

The President of Georgia, Michael Saakashvili, has this evening denied former Minister of Defence, Irakli Okruashvili, permission to return to the country.

Okruashvili has called on the president of Georgia asking for his pardon, having expressed desire to return home and participate in military operations in the georgian-ossetian conflict. IZVESTIA

Irakli Okruashvili has served on various important posts in the Government of Georgia under President Mikheil Saakashvili, including being the Minister of Defense from December 2004 until being dismissed in November 2006.
On September 27, 2007, Okruashvili was arrested at his party headquarters on the charges of corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office. In 2007 he left Georgia and was granted political asylum in France.

(Президент Грузии Михаил Саакашвили отказал во въезде в страну бывшему министру обороны Ираклию Окруашвили. "Окруашвили позвонил президенту Грузии и попросил у него прощения, выразив желание вернуться на родину и рядовым участвовать в боевых действиях в зоне грузино-осетинского конфликта, откуда он родом" 19:54 14.08.08)