TBILISI: A Georgian court sentenced a former prime minister yesterday to five years in prison for corruption in a verdict that the opposition branded as part of a government witch-hunt against its foes.
Vano Merabishvili was convicted of abuse of power and other crimes at the trial in the western city of Kutaisi. He served as prime minister for less than four months in 2012 under Georgia’s then-president, Mikheil Saakashvili, until their United National Movement (UNM) lost a parliamentary election.
Defence lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict.
“It is obvious that the judge failed to withstand pressure from the government,” UNM member Giga Bokeria told reporters.
“It is a very bad day not only for justice, but also for Georgia’s democratic traditions.”
Western countries have aired concerns that the new government has used selective justice and political persecution against opponents in the mountainous ex-Soviet republic, which is a pivot of geopolitical rivalry between Russia and the West. REUTERS
