MOSCOW, May 24 (RIA Novosti) - A Georgian opposition leader and former state security minister said Tuesday he was not intending to seek political asylum in Russia.
In 1995, Igor Giorgadze, then Georgia's state security minister, left the South Caucasus state after an assassination attempt on President Eduard Shevardnadze. The ruling authorities accused him of masterminding the attack and charged him with terrorism.
"I am not going to flee and hide," Igor Giorgadze said, adding that he had the legal opportunities in Russia to fight the charges against him and secure his removal from the wanted list.
The opposition leader was also highly critical of the current regime in Georgia.
"The Georgian authorities should be prevented from leading the country into the abyss," he said. "We should give Georgians an opportunity to hold honest and democratic elections."
He also said his activities would focus on cooperation with Russia. "I have often said that I am in favor of... establishing friendship with Russia."
Russian Deputy Prosecutor General Vladimir Kolesnikov said earlier that Russia could grant Giorgadze political asylum if he applied for it.
