Georgia's presidential candidate Mikhail Saakashvili speaks during a meeting with his supporters.
Photo: Reuters
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Okruashvili as Defense Minister Was My Biggest Mistake, Saakashvili Said
The biggest mistake of my presidency was appointing Okruashvili the defense minister, Georgia’s ex-president and today’s presidential candidate Mikhail Saakashvili announced in the talk show of Rustavi-2 TV.
Okruashvili was my biggest mistake, Saakashvili said, triggering an ovation amid the supporters. Previously, Saakashvili had never acknowledged any mistakes in the staff policy.
Georgia’s government will go through serious changes, Saakashvili said when speaking about the plans for the new team should he win the elections. In 2004, he was surrounded by the Rose Revolution supporters, ex-president went on, specifying that he would have a team of professionals, well-aware of what to do instead. The new government will be targeted at overcoming the poverty, creating new jobs and reducing the unemployment to the maximum extent.
Policy of the state construction was the greatest achievement of his presidency in 2004 through 2007, the former president said.
Once forced to vacate the office of defense minister in September 2007, Okruashvili accused the president of lobbying family interests for big business projects in Georgia. He also doubted the official story for the death of prime minister Zurab Zhvania.
Okruashvili was detained in a few days after the accusation. The prosecutors charged him with office abuse, money laundering and blackmail. He was released on the bail of $6.5 million and left Georgia for Germany.
The former defense minister is currently in custody in Germany. He was arrested following a Georgian request for his extradition.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
