Irakli Okruashvili, ex-defense minister, was arrested in Berlin upon the request of Georgian law enforcement agencies, the Berliner Zeitung reported on November 28.

Okruashvili, according to the report, was arrested on November 27.

Michael Grunwald, a spokesman for prosecutors in Berlin was quoted by The Associated Press as saying that prosecutors would now make a decision on whether to hold Okruashvili in custody pending extradition. He also said Georgia had 40 days to deliver full documentation on the case.

Okruashvili was released by the Georgian courts on GEL 10 million bail on October 9. He was arrested in late September and charged with large-scale bribery through extortion, money laundering and negligence while serving as minister.

On November 14 the courts again ordered Okruashvili to be held in custody after prosecutors claimed that the former defense minister had failed to turn up for further questioning.