Georgia, Tbilisi, May 24 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia
Former Georgian Prime Minister, Secretary General of the 'United National Movement' Vano Merabishvili is kept in solitary confinement, Merabishvili's barrister Giorgi Chiviashvili told reporters after visiting him in the prison No. 9 in Tbilisi on Thursday.
According to the barrister, Merabishvili feels fine and has no complaints about the confinement conditions.
"Merabishvili is vigorous, he is going to continue the fight. Now we are preparing an appeal, which will be introduced in due time," the lawyer said, noting that his detention was accompanied with procedural rules violation.
"The former prime minister had to be detained by the Minister of Justice or the Prosecutor General, so the procedural norms violation is obvious," Chiviashvili said.
Merabishvili's wife Tamar Salakaia called 'absurd' the accusations against her husband. As she told 'Rustavi-2' TV channel, all the accusations are "sucked from the finger," and, of course, will be challenged.
"All the allegations that Vano Merabishvili had money at home to escape are lies! We are not going to run anywhere but on the contrary, I returned from abroad to Tbilisi to fight for the truth together with my husband," she said.
Tamar Salakaia noted that she, all her relatives, loved ones and colleagues will protect the interests of the former prime minister till the end.
On the eve, the court chose against him a measure of restraint in the form of a custody. Zurab Tchiaberashvili was released on bail of 20 thousand lari to be paid in 30 days.
Merabishvili and Tchiaberashvili were detained by law enforcement agencies officers on May 21. The former government members and close associates of the President of Georgia are accused of corrupt practices, abuse of power and embezzlement of public funds. The 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.