Georgian former PM to serve five years in jail
By Jamila Babayeva
The Kutaisi City Court convicted former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili and former governor of the Kakheti region Zurab Chiaberashvili on February17.
After episodes of illegal employment of the National Movement members and the forcible appropriation of a country house in Kvariati, Merabishvili and Chiaberashvili were accused of illegal use of public funds.
About 180 witnesses were interrogated during the investigations, and 170 of them were presented by the prosecution.
The judge found the former prime minister guilty of all the charges and sentenced him to five years in jail. Merabishvili will not be able to hold a high public office for a year and a half after release.
Zurab Chiaberashvili was found guilty of just one charge, and has to pay a 50,000 lari fine.
Merabishvili didn't personally participate in the process, and his lawyers said that they will appeal against the ruling of the Kutaisi Court.
Merabshvili was Georgia's prime minister from July 4 to October 25, 2012. Before being appointed to this post, he was the minister of internal affairs since 28 December 2004.
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