Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov. 9 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia /
On Friday, Tbilisi City Court sentenced the former Interior and Defense Minister of Georgia Bacho Akhalaia to 2 months of detention.
The court did not accept defense arguments to release Akhalaia on 20,000 lari ($1 = 1.66 lari) bail .
However, the court did reach a procedural agreement, releasing the chief prosecutor of the joint staff of Georgian armed forces Giorgi Kalandadze and a brigade commander Zurab Shamatava on a 20,000 lari bail each.
The defendants are charged with mistreatment of soldiers, under part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. This includes abuse of power, followed by "an insult to the personal dignity of the victim," and carries 5 to 8 years imprisonment.
Akhalaia was also charged under article 143 - "illegal suppression of freedom" - which carries up to 12 years imprisonment.
All three detainees deny the charges.