Appeal Court accepts Saakashvili’s pre-trial detention

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.