Tbilisi’s ex- Mayor remains in pre-trail detention
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The Tbilisi Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal from Tbilisi’s former Mayor Gigi Ugulava about his pre-trial detention.
In Court today the judges said Ugulaval’s appeal was "inadmissible” as there were no well-founded arguments that showed the previous verdict was unfair.
Tbilisi City Court ordered Ugulava’s pre-trial detention on July 4. Ugulava’s defence lawyers challenged this decision and took to a higher court however the judge did not approve the appeal, which surprised Ugulava’s team.
"Such a decision was unexpected for us,” defence lawyer, Gizo Uglava said.
Political party United National Movement (UNM), which Ugulava is affiliated, condemned the decision and said it was "a step backwards for the Georgian state”.
Last Friday Tbilisi City Court imposed pre-trial detention on the former Mayor for organising group violence and coercion in Marneuli district during the June 15 local elections, which violated public order. Ugulava is also facing charges of illegally accumulating money for his political party.
He was arrested early Thursday morning while boarding a flight to Kiev, Ukraine.
A Member of Georgian Parliament and member of ruling coalition believes the detainment of former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava has not violated a pre-election moratorium instigated by the Prime Minister of Georgia.
The European Union is closely following the arrest of a United National Movement (UNM) opposition party leader and former Mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava.
Tbilisi City Court has imposed pre-trial detention on former Mayor of Tbilisi Gigi Ugulava for organising group violence and coercion in Marneuli district during the June 15 local elections, which violated public order. He is also charged with illegally accumulating money for his political party.
The former Mayor of Tbilisi has been charged with organising group violence and coercion activity in Marneuli district during the June 15 local elections which violated public order.
The Investigating Service of Georgia's Finance Ministry announced officials had opened an investigation into an alleged money laundering scheme by ex-ruling party United National Movement (UNM).
The Prime Minister of Georgia says the arrest of former Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava was unbiased and was an independent decision made by an independent court.
Charges against two former officials of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government have been intensified.
The International Prosecution Advisory Panel is recommending the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Georgia to continue its prosecution against ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and other former high ranking officials.