Georgia annuls Aslan Abashidze's diplomatic passport

The Georgian Foreign Ministry has annulled the diplomatic passport of Aslan Abashidze, his son Batumi Mayor Giorgiya Abashidze and Adjaria Ministry of Internal Affairs head Jemal Gogitidze.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry told Rosbalt that Abashidze's passport was annulled on the order of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. According to several unofficial reports, it is also expected that the Foreign Ministry will annul the diplomatic and work passports of 500 members of Abashidze's Vozrozhdeniye political party.

The center has also taken another strike on the wealthy region yesterday when the Georgian National Bank began liquidating commercial Marine Bank located in Batumi. Tbilisi believes the banks assets are in the hands of the Abashidze family. In addition, Georgian leaders suspect the bank of organizing illegal business deals.