Billionaire a key backer of the Rose Revolution

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The former bread basket of the USSR, it also had a place in Soviet history as the birthplace of Stalin.

When West-leaning, charismatic opposition leader Mikheil Saakashvili led the overthrow of the old regime five years ago, it looked as if the country was making a break with its past.

Saakashvili proceeded to reform Georgia's economy and bring it closer to Nato, much to the ire of Vladimir Putin.

Badri Patarkatsishvili was a keen backer of the Rose Revolution and helped fund it.

But President Putin fell out of love with many of Russia's businessmen who grew rich from state sell-offs and the Georgian leader followed him.

By last year, Mr Saakashvili was so worried about plots against him that he appeared to lapse into Soviet-era methods - using troops to quell demonstrations and jailing dissidents.

Last month he caught the divided opposition by surprise and staged elections. Levan Gachechiladze, the candidate put up against him, was no match for his populist appeal and Saakashvili was re-elected with a smaller majority.