Georgia detains former Deputy PM Giorgi Baramidze

Georgian law enforcement officers have detained former Georgian Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze, one of the leaders of the United National Movement, Georgia’s First Channel reports.

The report said no official information about the detention has been released so far.

Baramidze may be suspected of treason and acts of sabotage, the outlet added.

Earlier, the Georgian Interior Ministry said officers have detained another three people on corruption charges.

According to the ministry, those detained are an employee of the Telavi municipality, a veterinarian with the National Food Agency and a doctor, who are accused of abuse of office, commercial bribery and document forgery.

The municipal employee allegedly received 500 lari ($192) from a citizen for carrying out work on private land using municipal special equipment.

The veterinarian in the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region allegedly issued fictitious laboratory test reports to citizens in exchange for money.

A doctor at one of the clinics in Kakheti allegedly issued and sold citizens fake prescriptions for the purchase of psychotropic substances.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov