Following a Prosecutor’s Office request, a court in Tbilisi ruled on November 14 that ex-Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili be returned to police custody pending investigation.

Okruashvili was released on GEL 10 million bail on October 9 and is now, reportedly, in Germany.

His lawyer, Eka Beselia, has claimed the court order is in retaliation for a televised speech Okruashvili gave from Germany.

Prosecutors, however, denied this, saying the former defense minister had failed to turn up for further questioning, and hence their appeal to the court to have him placed in custody.

Okruashvili is charged with large-scale bribery through extortion, money laundering and negligence while serving as minister. The case is due to come in front of a judge on November 16.