Prosecutor’s Office: allegation aims to discredit Chief Prosecutor

The Prosecutors office of Georgia says that the recent allegations towards Chief Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze aim to discredit him in order to remove him from the office and cause discord in well-arranged work.

"After the chief prosecutor stepped up investigation into whole range of high-profile criminal cases and filed charges against senior officials from the previous government, including against Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava, with this latter in forefront, the United National Movement started a targeted campaign of discrediting and political blackmailing against the chief prosecutor, reads the written statement of the Prosecutors office.

The statement also reads "understanding that the fight against crime has never been an easy task, the chief prosecutor will definitely continue performing his duties imposed on him by the law.

Gigi Ugulava, who was suspended from the Tbilisi mayoral office by the court upon the prosecutions request, said on Monday evening that Otar Partskhaladze served one year and three months of a prison term in Germany after he was found guilty of robbery and theft in 2001.

Earlier this month, ex-Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili, who currently is in detention, claimed the Chief Prosecutor of using pressure and threats against him. Merabishvili said that Partskhaladze asked him to help the investigation to solve the ex-PM Zurab Zhvanias case, and also to provide information about ex-President Mikheil Saakashvilis bank accounts, otherwise Merabishvilis conditions in prison would deteriorate, and his friends would be arrested too.