Ex-Georgian defense minister not rules out arrest
By Sara Rajabova
Following dismissal from his post, former Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania hasn't ruled out the possibility of being arrested.
"This has been a political case from the very beginning. Naturally, I do not rule out the possibility of my arrest. I would prefer to be arrested, and the innocent people to be left alone," Alasania said in an interview with Rustavi 2 TV Company.
Prime Minister Garibashvili dismissed Alasania, who was also a leader of the Free Democrats party, after a meeting of the parliamentary majority fraction.
He stated that the decision has been taken because Alasania had tried to politicize an investigation into corruption cases in his department. "The minister has made an irresponsible statement that there is a threat on Georgian Euroatlantic values. He is trying to politicize the investigation into the Defense Ministry, where a number of serious violations and corruption have been recorded. Instead of collaborating with the investigation, he politicized the situation. It is unacceptable," Garibashvili said.
Following this, Georgian Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze announced her resignation during a special briefing at the Georgian Foreign Ministry on November 5.
Alasania's friend and colleague, the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alexi Petriashvili resigned as well. Petriashvili said: "dictatorship is coming and democracy is in danger."
Alasania urged all the pro-Western forces of Georgia to unite. He said that Russia has a concrete plan for the destruction of the state institutions that is working for Georgia's integration into Europe and NATO.
He said that a new phase in the life of Georgia has begun, "a phase when we all need to protect the values Georgia fought for during the previous twenty years."
Commenting on the ongoing developments in Georgia, political scientist Khatuna Lagazidze said the former defense minister won't be a major figure among the country's opposition.
"The government believes that, based on his political past, Alasania won't turn into a main opposition leader," Lagazidze told Trend Agency on November 5.
She said Alasania's past forced the government to take such a radical step.
According to the Lagazidze, some in the government believe that he is not capable of becoming a major figure among the opposition side.
She stressed that the confrontation between the government and Alasania did not begin just yesterday.
Commenting on the possibility of a political crisis in Georgia, Lagazidze noted that it will break out in case the Republicans leave the ruling coalition.