( Civil ) - Dimitri Kitoshvili, the former presidential spokesman charged with extortion, has been released in what appears to be a plea bargaining deal with the prosecutor's office involving giving evidence against ex-Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili.
Kitoshvili is charged with being involved in the extortion of 2.6% of shares in mobile operator company Geocell from ex-lawmaker and businessman, Jemal Svanidze. Among other charges, Okruashvili is charged with the same offence.
"Kitoshvili cooperated with the investigators and helped law enforcement agencies in their probe," Nika Gvaramia, deputy prosecutor general, said on September 28. "Because of this, Kitoshvili has been released on bail."
Video footage of Kitoshvili testifying against Okruashvili was also released by the General Prosecutor's Office. Kitoshvili can be seen saying that both he and Okruashvili forced Svanidze to give up his shares in Geocell for USD 250,000. The real price of the shares, according to the General Prosecutor's Office, was at least USD 10 million.