Prepared by Messenger Staff
Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili Sent to Pre-Trial Detention for Bail Non-Compliance
Former Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili has been placed in pre-trial detention after refusing to comply with bail conditions set by the Tbilisi City Court. The decision, delivered by Judge Nino Tarashvili, follows a motion from the Prosecutor's Office after Okruashvili chose not to pay the GEL 20,000 bail and refused to appear before a parliamentary commission.
Okruashvili, who served as Defense Minister from 2004 to 2006 under the United National Movement (UNM) government, is charged under Article 349 of the Georgian Criminal Code for "failure to comply with the request of the temporary investigative commission of the Parliament of Georgia."
The charge stems from Okruashvili's refusal to attend a hearing before the Georgian Dream-led parliamentary investigative commission, chaired by MP Tea Tsulukiani, on March 26. While he later provided testimony to investigators before a magistrate judge, the court initially released him on bail and prohibited him from leaving the country. However, his failure to pay the required bail prompted the prosecutor's request for his detention.
Georgian Dream Withdraws Support for UN Tourism Chief Pololikashvili, Backs UAE Candidate
The Georgian Dream has officially withdrawn its support for Zurab Pololikashvili's bid for a third term as Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), opting instead to back the candidate nominated by the United Arab Emirates, Shaikha Al Nowais. According to the government's administration, the decision to withdraw Pololikashvili's candidacy was made at his own request.
The move has sparked international attention and controversy following a report by The Diplomat in Spain, which described the decision as a "shocking political maneuver." The outlet alleges that the Georgian government had been secretly preparing to switch its support to the UAE's candidate as part of a "covert agreement" between the two countries.
The report also raised concerns about possible geopolitical motivations behind the decision, suggesting that Georgia's pivot may signal a strategic alignment with the Russian Federation. This speculation is especially sensitive given Pololikashvili's record: in 2022, he played a key role in leading the process to suspend Russia's membership in the UNWTO following its invasion of Ukraine.
Pololikashvili, who has served as Secretary-General since 2018, was considered a highly influential figure in the field of global tourism and was previously supported by the Georgian government in two successive terms.
