Police have detained former member of Georgian Parliament Eduard Surmanidze, Along with him, two Georgian citizens Giorgi Berulava and Murtaz Meurmishvili have also been detained.
As reported, the detainees are accused of abducting a German investor, who was working in Georgia. They forced the investor with intimidation and threatening to his life to pay them USD 270 thousand.
If considered guilty, the detainees may face 10-year imprisonment. The investigation is being conducted by the Constitutional Security Department of the Georgian Interior Ministry.
Dieter Schwembley was renting an apartment in 18 Phasanauri Street of Tbilisi during about a year. This is the apartment where the German businessperson was detained for purpose of money extortion during two weeks. Members of teh security services of teh block of apartment and neighbours said, Eduard Surmanidze, with his two friends, recently often visited the German businessperson, although they had noticed nothing suspicious.
Eduard Surmanidze was a member of parliament of three convocations. At first, he was a member of Georgia`s Revival political party, later he entered the National Movement. Surmanidze was working in the capacity of vice speaker of the parliament and later head of the committee for regional management. Since leaving the parliament up to present, Eduard Surmanidze was a member of board of the Georgian Railway.
