TBILISI, Georgia — Georgian prosecutors have arrested five senior police officers on charges linked to a recent election won by the opposition.
The prosecutor's office said Thursday that Levan Kardava, the head of the Interior Ministry's constitutional security department, was arrested overnight along with the four other officers.
They face accusations in connection with last month's parliamentary election, won by Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition, which unseated President Mikheil Saakashvili's party.
Charges include illegal detention and the damaging of equipment belonging to Ivanishvili's Channel 9 television.
The move follows the arrest earlier this month of Bacho Akhalaia, a former defense and interior minister accused of abusing servicemen. Supporters say the case is politically motivated.
Ivanishvili, who became Georgia's prime minister, has repeatedly promised to investigate Saakashvili-appointed officials accused of abusing their powers.
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