Appeal Court accepts Saakashvili’s pre-trial detention
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Tbilisi Court of Appeal has rejected a plea to quash pre-trial detention imposed on Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili.
The Court of Appeal said Saakashvili’s lawyer’s appeal was "inadmissible” and upheld the original decision of Tbilisi City Court to impose pre-trial detention, in absentia, on the former leader.
Saakashvili is charged on exceeding official authority relating to organising a vicious attack on lawmaker Valeri Gelashvili, the unlawful seizure of Imedi TV, as well as his role in the breakup of November 7, 2007 anti-government protests. He was sentenced to pre-trial detention on August 2.
The former president is currently abroad and refuses to return to Georgia to face his charges.
Meanwhile, a pre-hearing of the cases related to the unlawful seizure of Imedi TV and the November 7 protest issue will be held on September 22, Tbilisi City Court said today.
Four other former government officials are also facing similar charges to Saakashvili, including ex-Defence Minister Davit Kezerashvili, ex-Chief Prosecutor Zurab Adeishvili, ex-Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava and ex-Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili.
Ugulava and Merabishvili are now behind bars after being convicted in connection with several other unrelated cases. Kezerashvili and Adeishvili are wanted by Interpol.
PM Irakli Garibashvili said Georgia was a democratic country and its "relationship with any country would not outweigh the former president who was accused of very serious crimes”.
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and two other ex-government officials have been sentenced to pre-trial detention after a five hour hearing at Tbilisi City Court.
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Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has released a special statement outlining details of the criminal case against Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and former government members, citing "high public interest”.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is welcoming the official investigation into the indictments against ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili and several former high ranking officials and says the investigation will be "absolutely open”.
Local think-tanks say they have found signs of criminal acts in relation to the charges brought against Georgia’s former president Mikheil Saakashvili but are urging investigators to present evidence to prove the charges.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office has officially filed criminal charges against ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili today, July 28.
Georgia’s Chief Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion in Court asking Saakashvili be sentenced to pre-trial detention. Georgia’s former leader is currently facing criminal charges relating to exceeding authority.