A Georgian court has decided to keep Bacho Akhalaia, a former interior and defense minister, in custody but freed two army commanders on bail after being charged with abuse of power.
The Tbilisi City Court on Friday ordered Akhalaia detained for two months before trial and set bail at 20,000 lari ($12,000) each for Giorgi Kalandadze, the army's chief-of-staff, and another army commander, their lawyers said.
Prosecutors had requested that all three defendants be held in pre-trial detention. Abuse of power carries a prison term of up to eight years, while Akhalaia, also charged with illegal confinement, could face as much as 12 years if convicted. The case has raised concerns that the new government led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili is waging a political vendetta.
(Reuters)
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
