Abducted Board of Directors Deputy Chairman of United Georgian Bank set free

A task operation to release a hostage was conducted in the suburbs of Tbilisi on January 10. Board of Directors Deputy Chairman of the United Georgian Bank Tamaz Maghlakelidze, who was abducted in December 2003, was released from captivity. The banker was conveyed to the interior ministry for an interrogation.

Information on the whereabouts of the abducted banker was received from the three people arrested in the morning of January 10 on suspicion of the crime. Georgy Vashakidze, a general of the Georgian Defense Ministry, former member of the Mkhedrioni armed unit, is reported to be one of the detainees.

Editors note: See also the article "Banker reportedly abducted in Tbilisi".