The Russian Foreign Ministry has drawn attention to the fact that Georgia is not standing by its promise, made at the highest level, not to persecute former Ajarian leader Aslan Abashidze. \"We leave the arbitrary treatment of promises made at the highest level by individual officials in Tbilisi, but cannot help wondering what the assurances of Georgian politicians are worth and what else can be expected from them,\" says a ministry release on the opening of a criminal case against Abashidze in Georgia. It says reports on the issue have been snowballing. Abashidze\'s daughter was detained when she visited Batumi, and the criminal prosecution of Abashidze could lead to the confiscation of his property and that of his family. There have also been threats to declare him internationally wanted. \"All this is being done contrary to the guarantees of security and non-persecution that had been made at the very highest level. Now officials of different rank claim that these guarantees are no longer valid,\" says the ministry release. (Interfax)