Boris Berezovsky makes quick trip to Georgian capital

Boris Berezovsky arrived here by plane about midnight last night and remained in the capital about five hours, Rosbalt reported on the basis of an announcement by Shalva Londaridze, chief of the press service of Georgia's State Border Guard on Georgia state television's Rustavi 2 channel. Londaridze said Berezovsky, who owns the Georgian-based media company Imedi, flew from London aboard a plane belonging to Badry Patarkatsishvili, who, like Berezovsky, is sought by Russian authorities. Berezovsky came on a visa issued in the name of Platon Elevin. Londaridze said Berezovsky's stay in Georgia was 'absolutely legal.'

He said the passport in the name of Elevin was a legitimate British passport issued in July 2003. He said Berezovsky had a right to register under a second name and had so registered for his visit to Georgia. He said the visa might have been obtained in Great Britain, 'but, if not, it could have been obtained at the Tbilisi airport,' Londaridze said.