Georgian former Defense Minister Dmitry Shashkin has given his first interview after moving to the US on October 1, Vzglyad reports.
He said that he was simply on vacation and was planning to return to Georgia. The former minister explained that the sudden departure was provoked by physical abuse of his 8-year old daughter.
Shashkin reminded that activists of the Georgian Dream coalition were holding a picket at his house when he returned back with his daughter. One of the activists hit his daughter, witnesses said. He left the country after the incident.
He confirmed leaving the country on Facebook on Monday. Shashkin praised the work of the ministers for corrections, education and defense and the ideals of President Mikheil Saakashvili and the policy of joining NATO.
The apartment he rents costs at least $5000 a month for a family of 4 and was rented for at least half a year.
Shashkin said that the budget deficit of the ministry had started during the rule of minister Bacho Akhalaya, who had also left the country. Vice Premier Irakly Alasania says that the budget lacks $68 million.
