GEORGIAN OPPOSITION LEADER DETAINED ON GEORGIAN-ARMENIAN BORDER – INTERIOR MINISTRY
Interfax News Agency
Russia & CIS General Newswire
February 5, 2007 Monday 9:00 PM MSK
Leader of Georgia’s Imedi opposition party Irina Sarishvili was
stopped on the Georgian-Armenian border on Monday, because she had
failed to declare to customs gold jewelry and foreign currency she
carried with her while traveling from Armenia to Georgia, a Georgian
Interior Ministry spokesman told Interfax.
We are talking about 300 grams of gold jewelry, $58,000 and 7,000
rubles in cash, the spokesman said.
Sarishvili is being interrogated, after which a decision will be made
whether to charge her with violation of customs rules.
Earlier in the day, the Interior Ministry published video footage of
Sarishvili’s detention at a border checkpoint.
Sarishvili also headed a charity set up by ex-State Security Minister
Igor Georgadze, who is wanted on terrorism charges. The fund ceased
to exist in the summer of 2006.
Last autumn, 12 supporters of Georgadze were arrested and accused of
attempting to organize a coup.