Georgia, Tbilisi, Dec. 8 / Trend N. Kirtskhalia /
Turkish court didn't find a well-known businessman, supporting the Georgian opposition forces, ARTI co-founder Guram Gogua guilty and refused to extradite him to Tbilisi, Solidarity of Illegal Prisoners movement said.
"The Turkish court will not satisfy the Georgian side's requirement to extradite Gogua to Georgia. Moreover, the court found him guilty and agreed to the release from prison," Eka Beselia's organization said.
Guram Gogua was arrested in Turkey at Georgia's request. He is a business partner of Kibar Khalvashi, who was arrested in autumn 2007 on the criminal case of ex-defense minister Irakli Okruashvili. Later Gogua was released together with Okruashvili, but after the resumption of criminal proceedings against Okruashvili, the criminal case was reopened also against Gogua.In Georgia, he was accused of tax violations and causing damage to the state budget.