Georgia, Tbilisi, May 24 / Trend, N. Kirtzkhalia /
The international community is closely following the events surrounding former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Georgia Bridget Brink said on Friday following the meeting of the Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili with the diplomatic corps.
"The international community is following the arrests of members of the former government with great interest. The U.S. welcomes Georgia's commitment to joining Euro-Atlantic structures and will continue its support. Also, the U.S. supports the rule of law in Georgia, transparency and conducting a full investigation on the basis of the presumption of innocence," Brink said.
Ivanishvili himself said that the interest of diplomats in the Merabishvili affair "is not very high."
The Kutaisi City Court chose pre-trial detention as a preventive measure for the secretary-general of the United National Movement Vano Merabishvili, and bail of 20,000 lari for Zurab Tchiaberashvili. He was required to pay the sum during a 30-day period.
Merabishvili and Tchiaberashvili were detained by law enforcement officers on May 21.
Merabishvili is accused of committing crimes under Articles 164, 182 and 332 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. Zurab Chiaberashvili, according to his lawyer Georgiya Gelkhauri, is accused of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.