According to preliminary information, Okruashvili flew to Munich.
Georgy Khaindrava said state authorities had taken Okruashvili out of the country. He did not give any further details, saying that he would make a statement during a news conference to be held on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. local time (10:00 a.m. GMT).
In late September Irakly Okruashvili, who was dismissed as defense minister in November 2006, accused President Mikheil Saakashvili of ordering the murders of political opponents. He was subsequently arrested and released on October 9 on $6 million bail after backing down on the accusation in a televised interview with state prosecutors.
The opposition later claimed that psychotropic drugs had been used against Okruashvili in order to get him to retract his accusations. The claims were denied by the Georgian government.
Suspicions of extortion, money laundering, abuse of office and negligence voiced against Okruashvili before his arrest prompted an opposition rally outside parliament. The rally was called "an appropriate response to the immoral government," by opposition figures, who also demanded President Saakashvili's resignation
An opposition spokesman reported on October 11 that Okruashvili had decided to quit politics.
