Wednesday, October 24, 2007, #203 (1470)

Top MP queried on links to arrested ex-minister
By Anna Kamushadze

An absent MP returns homes to questions

A top majority MP, returning to parliament after months away, refused to comment on any personal links to arrested ex-minister Irakli Okruashvili but expressed support for the investigation against him.

MP Givi Targamadze returned from Ukraine this week, where he was with a Georgian team of election observers for that country’s parliamentary elections.

October 22’s parliament session is the first Targamadze has attended since the fall session commenced.

His return sparked renewed speculation over his ties to ex-defense minister Okruashvili.

Okruashvili is awaiting trial on a number of corruption charges, including some related to an alleged graft scheme while he was in charge of the Defense Ministry.

Targamadze is chair of the parliamentary Defense and Security Committee, and one of four members of the Group of Confidence, a commission of majority MPs with oversight of all Defense Ministry spending.

Speaking to reporters upon his return to parliament, Targamadze put distance between himself and a man thought to be his old friend.

“I can say one thing—to set yourself beyond your own family, relatives, friends and the interests of your country leads to a personal catastrophe,” Targamadze commented. “My position is firm enough and I believe this position coincides well with this of our team.”

He refused to comment on his presumed friendship with Okruashvili, saying it was a personal matter.
Targamadze also downplayed the importance of the opposition’s planned November 2 protest in Tbilisi, saying he did not expect anything remarkable to happen.



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