Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili of Georgia
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In December 2008, Sozar Subari, Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia, claimed he had evidence that then Georgia's Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili had ordered police to beat protesters, "mainly in the kidneys and the stomach.
They are now being interrogated, Merabishvili said without specifying what the motive behind this murder was.
Vano Merabishvili was forced to acknowledge that he has killers in his Ministry after pressure from society.
During parliamentary hearings on February 28, Merabishvili said that the investigation has not yet revealed any facts which could cause the dismissal of those officials who were mentioned in the Imedi report.
Davit Gamkrelidze claimed that "It has become clear today that Merabishvili is trying to cover-up criminals sitting in the Interior Ministry.
Addressing reporters in the eastern town of Rustavi, Merabishvili said attacks against him and his administration were directed at the Georgian state.
Rights campaigners say police violence has been steadily increasing since Merabishvili took over as interior minister in late 2004.
Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said Russia had redeployed troops closer to its border and that the Russia Black Sea fleet was expected to start maneuvers in the next few days.
Merabishvili said this was all part of Russias plans to guarantee Georgia does not get into NATO by stirring unrest in the region.
Merabishvili was apparently echoing a similar statement by President Mikheil Saakashvili, whom the daily "Akhali taoba" quoted on 10 November as having encouraged police several days earlier to shoot to kill when threatened by armed criminals.
Merabishvili said that he was revealing the story out of frustration with Russia's response and the need to illustrate the dangers of a breakdown in security co-operation in the region.
officials would confirm the exact weight of the seizure or its quality, but Merabishvili said it was about 100 grams of uranium enriched by more than 90 per cent.
Vano Merabishvili says that "during a special operation on July 17, the Georgian Interior Ministry detained Valiev and Zaseyev who had committed the act of terrorism in Gori.
200610:45 (GMT)Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said that the only reason of the oppositions calls for his resignation is intensive fight against organized crime, Civil Georgia reported.
Responding to allegation voiced by Erosi Kitsmarishvili, a former ambassador to Russia, in his testimony before the commission on November 25, Merabishvili said he did “not consider those statements as serious.
14 Georgian policemen were killed during the hostilities and 8 more policemen during various incidents that took place after the war in the areas close to the breakaway regions’ administrative border.
In Washington, Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said he disclosed the story of last year's thwarted uranium sale out of frustration with Russia's response and to illustrate the dangers of a breakdown in security cooperation in the region.
First of all, Merabishvili is no Irakli Okruashvili, who Saakashvili entrusted with carrying out the vine harvesting and export of Georgian wine before the Russian embargo.
Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said police officers at posts near the Russian-held territories around South Ossetia and Abkhazia would be replaced by Interior Ministry special forces to strengthen security.
But most remarkable special operation by Merabishvili was that related to the tape of Kodua.
Merabishvili said that potential buyers of those missile systems from Syria and Iran were attending the launch of those rockets in Java; this launch of missiles was type of a demonstration for those potential buyers; On August 9-12 the Kodori Gorge was shelled, including from strategic bombers; over 600 shells fell down in the Kodori Gorge; the upper Kodori Gorge was well protected area and not a single person died there as a result of bombardments; But maintaining control over Kodori Gorge became impossible after the Russian troops entered into the Samegrelo region from Abkhazia besieging the upper Kodori Gorge; I took a decision and ordered the Interior Ministry forces – about 300-400 – deployed in Kodori to retreat from the area; they retreated only after the local population was evacuated from Kodori; Russians were ready to intervene into Georgia from other directions as well; I personally saw the Russian military convoy consisting of at least 50 armored vehicles of various types standing on the Russian side of the border at the Larsi border crossing point; the convoy was seen from the Georgian side of the border; the Russian military unit was also deployed at the Dagestani section of the Georgian-Russian border and were ready for intervention through the Dagestani-Georgian road; we have exploded that road as the chance of their intervention from that direction was higher; A total of about 5,000 Georgian policemen and 70 armored vehicles were involved in the military operation; 14 Georgian policemen were killed during the hostilities and 8 more policemen during various incidents that took place after the war in the areas close to the breakaway regions’ administrative border.
Zhvanias death is absolutely not linked , Merabishvili said in an interview conducted before the prime ministers February 6 funeral.
Merabishvili has characterized Zhvanias death as a tragic accident involving carbon-monoxide poisoning.
Merabishvili said the suspects were both male, aged 30-35, and approximately 56 (170-175-cm) in height.
The group was responsible for several terrorist attacks and organized the attack in Gori, Merabishvili said in televised remarks that were immediately denied by Russias embassy in Tbilisi and officials in Moscow.
Merabishvili was quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency as saying.
Merabishvili said that Kiladze had received at least 20,000 dollars as reward.
Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs Vano Merabishvili has announced that The authorities will combat corruption at any cost.