Georgia, Tbilisi, May 23 / Trend, N. Kirtskhalia /
The leader of the European People's Party Wilfried Martens expressed his surprise and concern about the arrest of the Secretary General of the 'National Movement', former prime minister of Georgia Vano Merabishvili and the governor of Kakheti region Zurab Tchiaberashvili, a statement posted on the official website of the party on Thursday says.
"This arrest is a serious setback for democracy in Georgia, as the former prime minister Vano Merabishvili is the secretary general of the main opposition party and a potential presidential candidate. Destruction of an opposition party will have significant implications for the political system of the country," Martens said, calling on the international community to conduct monitoring of the pre-electoral processes.
He hopes that Merabishvili's fundamental rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights will be protected in a country that wishes to join the Euro-Atlantic structures.
Martens also called on the European Commission and other European institutions to monitor the trial.
Merabishvili was taken into custody. Zurab Tchiaberashvili was released on 20 thousand lari bail that must be paid in 30 days.
Merabishvili and Tchiaberashvili were detained by law enforcement officers on May 21. Officials of the former government and close associates of the President of Georgia are accused of corrupt practices, abuse of power and embezzlement of public funds. An investigation is being conducted under Article 164 (bribery of voters), Article 182, part 3 (embezzlement or misappropriation of funds by using the official position which entailed serious damage) and Article 332 (abuse of power) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.