Okruahsvili appeals pretrial detention over Tbilisi protests

Lawyers of former Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili have appealed the decision of Tbilisi City Court to deny bail to the former official regarding the June 20 unrest in Tbilisi.

Okruashvili was charged with incitement to group violence during the June 20 protests, which is punishable by six to nine years in prison. He was denied bail on July 27.

According to Okruashvili’s lawyer Anna Rekhviashvili, the "charge is politically motivated," Agenda.ge reported.

Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said that statements about Okruashvili’s detention and his possible political prosecution are "cheap speculations."