TBILISI, OCTOBER 16, NOYAN TAPAN. Officers of Constitutional Security Department (CSD) of Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia arrested Edward Surmanidze, former MP and Deputy Chairman of Georgian Parliament through operative investigation activities. Two other persons Giorgi Berulava and Murtaz Meurmishvili were arrested along with Surmanidze. The three are suspected in threatening of a German investor and trying to extort USD 270 thousand to save his life, reported CAUCASUS PRESS. Soso Topuridze, Deputy Head of Constitutional Security Department held a special briefing regarding the case. The MIA also released an operative material showing the investor telling the details of the occurred. The crime envisages up to 10 years in prison. Surmanidze was Chairman of the Committee on Regional Self-governance and High Mountainous Regions. He was also Leader of Our Adjara Opposition Movement and a member of Supervisory Board of the Georgian Railway Department.

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