Georgia, Tbilisi, May 23 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
The Governor of Kakheti (Eastern Georgia) Zurab Tchiaberashvili left prison No. 2 of Kutaisi on May 23 after his family paid a bail of 20,000 lari.
Yesterday, the Kutaisi City Court chose pre-trial detention as a preventive measure for the secretary-general of the United National Movement Vano Merabishvili, and payment of 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.
Tchiaberashvili considers his detention to be political persecution. "It was after I started to actively intervene in the lives of the citizens in Kakheti and seek compensation for them as well as address other issues, that I was detained," he stressed.
Tchiaberashvili promised to continue the political struggle within the United National Movement and does not intend to leave his post.
The official exchange rate on 23 May is 1.64 GEL / $.