Lawyer to ex-Government officials released on 20,000 GEL bail

Georgian lawyer Goga Oniani, who represented high-ranking officials of Georgia's former Government, was released on 20,000 GEL bail.

Oniani was arrested and charged with abuse of power, falsifying evidence and intentional unlawful detention on February 22.

One of Oniani's most famous clients was former Georgian Defense and Interior Minister Bacho Akhalia, who is still imprisoned.

Before he became a lawyer, Oniani served as the head of Gldani-Nadzaladevi Police Division of Tbilisi.

Oniani’s defense representatives stated they were "satisfied” with the Tbilisi City Court decision to release the lawyer on bail.

Both the lawyer and former ruling United Movement Party member consider Oniani’s arrest to be a result of "pressure on the opposition” and his arrest was "politically motivated”.

The Prosecutors’ Office claimed Oniani, while working as the head of Gldani-Nadzaladevi police division, purposely falsified evidence in a criminal case against David Shatirishvili, an activist for ruling Georgian Dream party.

The Prosecutor’s Office also stated the lawyer purchased and possessed narcotics, namely cannabis, in large quantities and told a police investigator to report in official documents that he found and seized cannabis during his personal search of Shatirishvili.

Shatirishvili was subsequently charged with illegal purchase and possession of a narcotic substance.

Oniani’s case is still under investigation. If he is found guilty, he could face a prison sentence of up to eight years.