Georgia, Tbilisi, July 4 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia /
Georgia is one of the safest countries in the world, and it is an achievement of former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Wednesday introducing new Interior Minister Bacho Akhalaia.
"No matter what anyone says, the Georgian police carried out large-scale reforms, and evolved from a totally criminalized and corrupt system in the progressive organization that has great confidence in people and ensures security," he said.
Saakashvili stressed that a few day ago his son who went for a month to New York to study, called him and complained that his bicycle was stolen.
"I told him that only our police provide the level when there is no hijacking and theft, and that is the achievement of the police," the president said.
Saakashvili, introducing Akhalaia noted that he showed himself very well as defense minister, and before that as Minister of Corrections, when he declared war on the thieves in the law and was able to restore order in the prisons, where the criminal had ruled before.
Saakashvili stressed that the Ministry of Interior is depoliticized body, but will never allow the return of corrupt officials, criminals, and "every kind of evil."
"We need a strong, but democratic hand and Bacho Akhalaia is such a person. Vano Merabishvili asked me to appoint Akhalaia to this post, and I agreed with him," the president of Georgia said.