( Civil ) - Dimitri Kitoshvili, the president's spokesman, has been arrested and charged with extortion, deputy prosecutor general, Nika Gvaramia said on September 25.
Gvaramia said that in October, 2006 Kitoshvili, who then served as the chairman of National Regulatory Commission for Communications, "extorted" 2.6% of shares in mobile operator company Geocell from ex-lawmaker and businessmen, Jemal Svanidze.
Real price of 2.6% of Geocell shares, Gvaramia said, was up to USD 10 million, while only USD 250,000 was paid.
"During this illegal actions," Gvaramia said, "Kitoshvili claimed that he was acting on behalf of the [ruling] National Movement Party."
He also pointed out that it was "very hard" for him to make this statement because he personally knew Kitoshvili for many years.
"However, I want to make it clear that our government will not make any exclusions in our anti-corruption drive," Gvaramia added.