Ex-Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili’s potential to form a strong political force rather the allegations he has levelled against the country’s leadership is really what scares the authorities, Kakha Kukava, a lawmaker from the opposition Conservative Party, has said.

“Okruashvili has everything it takes to succeed politically,” he told Civil.Ge. “He has money, charisma and important information.”

He said that measures were currently being taken to somehow “neutralize” Okruashvili. The arrest of presidential spokesman Dimitri Kitoshvili on September 25 is a case in point, he said.

“Kitoshvili will now be forced to give evidence against Okruashvili,” he said.

Levan Berdzenishvili, a lawmaker from the opposition Republican party, said earlier suggestions that Okruashvili would only oppose the ruling party and not President Saakashvili personally have proved to be incorrect.

“Such a fierce attack on Saakashvili by Okruashvili does not really look like a political game,” he told Civil.Ge.

He also said that no credible response had been made by the authorities yet to Okruashvili’s statements. “Okruashvili’s criticism addressed Saakashvili who still hasn't responded,” Berdzenishvili said.

Saakashvili is in New York for the UN General Assembly Session.

Unlike the Conservative and Republican parties, the New Rights opposition party has been critical of the ex-defense minister. “With his statements, Okruashvili has confirmed that he participated in illegalities and crimes committed by the authorities,” Mamuka Katsitadze, a lawmaker from the New Rights Party, said.