Ex-defence minister Okruashvili’s appeal for bail denied
Former official Irakli Okruashvili is charged with incitement to violence during the June 20, 2019 rally in central Tbilisi. Photo: IPN.
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Tbilisi City Court has denied former Defence Minister of Georgia Irakli Okruashvili’s appeal for bail, with the judge saying that “there is a chance Okruashvili may go on the run or influence on witnesses if released on bail.”
The court discusses whether or not to change the preventive measure of detention once a month.
No new evidence has emerged in the case and Okruashvili was left in pretrial detention,” Prosecutor Giorgi Mukbaniani said after today’s court session.
Okruashvili was charged with incitement to group violence during the June 2019 protests in Tbilisi, which is punishable by six to nine years in prison.
Earlier he was denied bail on July 27, 2019.
The video released by the Interior Ministry, involving Okruashvili at the rally.
Okruahsvili served as prosecutor general, interior and defence ministers under the United National Movement government of Georgia.
After opposing former president and ally Mikheil Saakashvili back in 2007, he was detained on corruption charges.
Okruashvili left for France several days after he was released, where he lived until 2012.
He came back to Georgia in winter 2012, shortly after the Georgian Dream leadership defeated the nine-year-rule of the United National Movement leadership.
Currently he chairs the Victorious Georgia opposition party and is “fighting to regain his shares” of the Rustavi 2 channel.
Levan Jikuri, who was charged with violence committed by a group at the June 20 rally in Tbilisi, has been released on 2,000 GEL [$672] bail after admitting to his presence at the demonstration and using a shield against police.
Tbilisi City Court has left former Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili in pretrial detention, declining the offer of his lawyer on the payment of 500,000 GEL ($168,000) for bail.
Tbilisi Court of Appeals has left the verdict to deny ex-Defence Minister Okruashvili bail intact.
Two individuals have been detained for organising, leading and participating in group violence during the June 20 rally, the Georgian Interior Ministry reports. The ministry says the two took part in group violence, attacked police and attempted to storm the parliament building in an organised manner.
The US Embassy to Georgia says that the recent arrest of former Defence Minister, and current opposition leader Irakli Okruashvili has raised concerns of political interference and the selective use of justice.