Former Georgian minister remains in custody

On Friday, Tbilisi City Court sentenced the former Interior and Defense Minister of Georgia, Bacho Akhalaia, to 2 months detention, Trend reports.

The court did not accept defense arguments to release Akhalaia on 20,000-lari ($1 = 1.66 lari) bail .

However, the court decided to release the chief prosecutor of the joint staff of Georgian armed forces, Giorgi Kalandadze, and a brigade commander, Zurab Shamatava, on 20,000-lari bail each.

The defendants are charged with mistreatment of soldiers, under part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia. This includes abuse of power, followed by "an insult to the personal dignity of the victim," and is punishable by 5-8 years imprisonment.