159 former high officials charged under current state leadership

The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office says that 159 former officials have been charged with various crimes since 2012, since the time the current Georgian Dream leadership defeated the nine-year-rule of the United National Movement government.

Among the people charged are former President Mikheil Saakashvili, former Interior Minister Ivane Merabishvili, former Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia and others, IPN news agency reports.

• Saakashvili has been charged with four cases: money embezzlement, raid in Imedi TV and illegal seizure of property of deceased tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, beating of opposition MP Valeri Gelashvili and Sandro Girgvliani murder case.
• Merabishvili has been charged with five cases: Valeri Gelashvili case, Akura Winery case, 26 May peaceful protest rally dispersal case, voter bribery and Girgvliani case.
• Akhalaia has been charged with four cases:  Navtlugi special operation case, Sergo Tetradze case, prison riot case and Girgvliani case.

Merabishvili and Akhalaia are serving their sentences, while Saakashvili has not returned to Georgia since 2013, when his presidential term expired.