29 September 2007, 12:48
Political scientists: Okruashvili's arrest is a blunder of Georgian authorities
"By arresting Okruashvili, the authorities made a mistake, as if confirming what he had said. Firstly, they forced Okruashvili to shut up, but secondly, they made a broad advertisement for him," Mamuka Areshidze, an expert on Caucasian matters and head of the NGO "Centre of Strategic Studies of the Caucasus," has stated to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
In his turn, Paata Zakareishvili, a scientist in conflict settling and a member of the Republican Party of Georgia, has expressed his position as follows: "The charges presented to Okruashvili are ridiculous and absurd. It was just better for Saakashvili to arrest him."
In the opinion of political scientist Ramaz Sakvarelidze, it is difficult to tell so far whether the protest action launched on September 28 in front of the building of the Parliament of Georgia will grow into something bigger. He hoped that the Georgian authorities would be prudent enough "not to irritate the participants of the protest action with violent methods."
We remind you that the former Minister of Defence of Georgia Irakliy Okruashvili was sentenced by decision of the Tbilisi City Court to two months of custodial arrest for the period of investigation. Mr Okruashvili will serve his term in Rustavi Prison No. 6.
Author: Edita Badasian, CK correspondent
