Ex-interior Minister Merabishvili transported to hospital from prison

Georgia’s former Interior and Prime Minister under the United National Movement leadership  Ivane (Vano) Merabishvili was transported to hospital yesterday  due to respiratory problems, his lawyers told the media.

The lawyers stated today that Merabishvili, who was detained in 2013, now “feels better” and that he will be checked in prison by doctors.

As far as I was informed Merabishvili could not breath properly, which caused some other problems for his heath”, lawyer Giorgi Chiviashvili said.

The Georgian Justice Ministry says that Merabishvili’s transfer to the hospital was  scheduled  and the diagnosis made by doctors reads that “Merabishvili’s health and life is not at any risk”.

Merabishvili, who served as prime minister and interior minister of Georgia under the previous state leadership, was arrested in May 2013 after the Georgian Dream (GD) coalition defeated the nine-year rule of the United National Movement in 2012 parliamentary elections.

Merabishvili was charged for faking documents, misspending budgetary funds and alleged abuse of authority in connection with three different high-profile cases and was sent to prison for five years.