Former Georgian defense minister at center of political crisis leaves country for Germany
Georgia’s former defense minister, whose sensational allegations against President Mikhail Saakashvili and subsequent arrest sparked the worst political crisis in years, has left the country, opposition and government officials said Thursday. The turmoil surrounding Irakli Okruashvili and rampant conspiracy theories have raised concern that Saakashvili — a stalwart U.S. ally — and his government were slipping away from democracy. Full Story