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Former Georgian Interior Minister to challenge city court decision

Georgia Materials 12 November 2012 15:00 (UTC +04:00)
A complaint will be lodged at the Court of Appeal regarding the decision of Tbilisi City Court, which sentenced former Georgian interior minister Bacho Akhalaia to detention, the lawyer of former minister Joseph Janashia told journalists.
Former Georgian Interior Minister to challenge city court decision

Georgia, Tbilisi, Nov. 12 /Trend N.Kirtskhalia /

A complaint will be lodged at the Court of Appeal regarding the decision of Tbilisi City Court, which sentenced former Georgian interior minister Bacho Akhalaia to detention, the lawyer of former minister Joseph Janashia told journalists.

According to him, the court's decision was intermediate. "The court tried to take an interim solution, but it is still political," Janashia said.

He added the appeal will be filed as soon as the defence receives the court order.
Akhalaia himself has already been transferred to prison N 8 in Tbilisi.

The chief of joint staff of Georgian armed forces Giorgi Kalandadze was released on Saturday morning, after bail of $14.000. Another person involved in the incident that involved the beating of military personnel, brigade commander Zurab Shamatava left the jail on Saturday evening after bail of $14.000.

On Friday Tbilisi City Court sentenced the former Interior and Defence Minister of Georgia Bacho Akhalaia to two months detention.

The court did not agree with the defence arguments and didn't release Akhalaia on bail of 20.000 lari ($1=1.66 lari) before the trial.

At the same time the court agreed with the conclusion of a procedural agreement with the chief prosecutor of the joint staff of the Georgian armed forces Giorgi Kalandadze and brigade commander Zurab Shamatava. They are released on bail of 20,000 lari each.

Previously, they were charged with the maltreatment of soldiers. They are charged upon part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia which includes abuse of power, followed by 'an insult to the personal dignity of the victim' which implies imprisonment from five to eight years.

Akhalaia was filed with additional charges against him under article 143 - 'illegal suppression of freedom'. This article carries a custodial sentence of up to 12 years.

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