Former Georgian Prime Minister Charged with Corruption

Accused of misusing state funds for campaigning and seizing a villa.

A former Georgian prime minister has been arrested on corruption charges in a move that may rekindle international concerns over alleged selective prosecutions under billionaire premier Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Vano Merabishvili, who was prime minister until Mr Ivanishvili's surprise parliamentary election victory last October, was charged with misusing 5.2m lari ($3.2m) of state funds for campaign financing and illegally seizing a villa. Prosecutors said further charges may follow.