1. Irakli Okruashvili was born on November 6,1973 and is a Georgian politician who had served on various high-ranking posts in the Government of Georgia under President Mikheil Saakashvili, including being the Minister of Defense from December 2004 until being dismissed in November 2006.
In September 2007, Okruashvili staged a public comeback to Georgian politics, openly confronting Mikheil Saakashvili and creating the opposition party Movement for United Georgia.
On September 27,2007, Irakli Okruashvili was briefly arrested at his party headquarters on the charges of corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office.
Irakli Okruashvili was sentenced to 11-year prison term in Georgia in absentia in March 2008.
Irakli Okruashvili was sentenced to five years in prison for allegedly participating in group violence in anti-government rallies organized in June 2019.
On March 8,2022, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence stated that Irakli Okruashvili had arrived in Ukraine, together with other Georgian volunteers, to fight against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Irakli Okruashvili was born in Tskhinvali, South Ossetian AO, Georgian SSR.
Irakli Okruashvili graduated from Faculty of International Law and Relations at Tbilisi State University.
Irakli Okruashvili served as the Deputy Minister of Justice from 2000 to 2001.
Irakli Okruashvili joined Mikhail Saakashvili's United National Movement and was elected as a member of Tbilisi Assembly in 2002.
Irakli Okruashvili served as the Prosecutor General from January 2004 until Saakashvili appointed him Interior Minister in June 2004 and moved him to the post of defence minister in December 2004.
Irakli Okruashvili said on May 1,2006, that he would resign if Georgia failed to restore control over breakaway South Ossetian by January 1,2007.
Irakli Okruashvili resigned as Minister for Economic Development on November 17,2006.
Irakli Okruashvili raised new concerns around Zurab Zhvania's death, challenging the official investigation point of view and personally accused the Georgian president in planning the murder of businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili.
Speculations about Irakli Okruashvili's planned party had been circulating for a long time already and many commentators expected, what they called, "a war of compromising materials" in case of Irakli Okruashvili's political comeback.
On September 27,2007, Irakli Okruashvili was detained on charges of extortion, money laundering, and abuse of office while Georgia's defense minister.
Irakli Okruashvili said that his earlier accusations levelled against Saakashvili were not true and were aimed at gaining political dividends for himself and Badri Patarkatsishvili and at discrediting the President of Georgia.
Some opposition leaders said Irakli Okruashvili's statement had been made under duress.
Irakli Okruashvili declared that he had decided to cooperate with the investigation to "mitigate [his] situation".
Irakli Okruashvili subsequently said he was forced into exile; the government said he had asked to leave because of medical issues.
On November 5,2007, Irakli Okruashvili made a surprise appearance on Imedi TV from Munich, claiming that he had been forced to retract accusations against President Saakashvili while being in jail.
On November 14,2007, following a Prosecutor's Office request, a court in Tbilisi ruled that Irakli Okruashvili be returned to police custody pending investigation.