Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on March 8 that its military police was investigating, what it said was, misappropriation of MoD’s resources for UNM’s campaign purpose ahead of the October, 2012 parliamentary elections.

The military police claimed that in September 2012, then leadership of the armed forces and MoD gave over 23,600 liters of fuel to UNM for vehicles to ferry supporters at campaign rallies in Samegrelo region, which resulted into misuse of army resources worth of GEL 58,536 (about USD 35,000).

While announcing these allegations, Vako Avaliani, an advisor to the minister of defense, noted that this alleged offense was committed at the time when the post of defense minister was held by Dimitri Shashkin. No charges have yet been filed against anyone into this case.

Shashkin, who left the country after the October parliamentary elections, returned back to Georgia on March 6. He said on March 8 that allegations about “fuel theft” were “ridiculous”. Shashkin, who was prison system minister in February-December, 2009, then served as education minister in December, 2009-July, 2012 and then as defense minister for few months in 2012, also said that he was ready to respond to any question that investigators might have to him.