Georgia’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan has confirmed two United Nationals Movement (UNM) leaders were stopped and heavily questioned at Baku Airport for attempting to smuggle about $1 million USD into Georgia.
UNM Members of Parliament Irma Nadirashvili and Zurab Japaridze were stopped at the customs terminal of the airport today as they attempted to leave the country, said Ambassador Teimuraz Sharashenidze.
Azerbaijan Airport Customs Service told Georgian news agency PIA they only detained Nadirashvili for not declaring the personal money she was carrying, but customs did not specify the amount of money concerned.
Georgian MPs have global immunity as they hold diplomatic passports and cannot be arrested.
The news was released a few hours ago by Georgian news agencies, who also claimed the UNM leaders tried to unlawfully bring tasers into Georgia.
The Georgian Embassy representative in Azerbaijan has already travelled to the airport to learn more about the situation.
Nadirashvili gave a phone interview to local TV Rustavi 2 at 6pm and confirmed she was in Baku but denied all allegations against her and Japaridze. She said all information published was false. She is expected to return to Georgia tonight.
UNM officials in Georgia confirmed Nadirashvili and Japaridze were in Baku but strongly denied the claims against them.