Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili told reporters on April 7 that Tariel Potskhveria was arrested in Crimea, where he was hiding. He said Potskhveria would be extradited to Georgia soon.
Merabishvili had previously blamed Potskhveria -- a Georgian criminal boss -- for inspiring an alleged riot at Tbilisi's Prison No. 5 on March 27.
Georgian authorities say 7 inmates were killed and another 22 were wounded when police quelled the riot.
Georgia's rights campaigners and opposition leaders question the official account of events, suggesting prison officials may have provoked the unrest.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has called for an independent investigation into the events.
(Prime News, Civil Georgia)