Former Georgian prime minister's trial postponed
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 July 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Former Georgian prime minister's trial postponed, 15 July 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/51e79bb524.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 15, 2013
Ivane Merabishvili appears during a preliminary hearing of his case in court in Kutaisi in May.
The trial of Georgia's former prime minister, Ivane Merabishvili, has been postponed.
Merabishvili's lawyer, Giorgi Chiviashvili, told journalists on July 15 that the trial date has been moved from July 15 to August 23.
He said prosecutors requested additional time to submit new evidence in the case.
Merabishvili, who is secretary-general of President Mikheil Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) party, was arrested in May and charged with abuse of power, embezzlement, bribing voters, and covering up a murder.
Merabishvili insists the charges are politically motivated.
Several associates of Saakashvili have been arrested and charged with wrongdoing since Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's Georgian Dream coalition won parliamentary elections in October 2012.
Based on reporting by Apsny.ge and RFE/RL's Georgian Service
Link to original story on RFE/RL website