20 May 2011, 20:00
The leader of the youth branch of the "Georgian Party" taken into custody for 40 days
The City court of Tbilisi selected pretrial detention for 40 days as a preventive punishment for the leader of the youth branch of the "Georgian Party" Shota Yamanidze. Yamanidze was detained by the police of Tbilisi on May, 18, for accusation of purchasing, storage and use of narcotic drugs.
Levan Gachechiladze, co-chairman of the party, reported the detention saying that "the young oppositionist has never used drugs" and "the action of law enforcement officers is aimed at discredit of the "Georgian Party".
A charge according to part two, clause 260 of the Criminal code of Georgia, i.e. illegal selling, transfer, storage, purchasing or manufacturing narcotic drugs, their analogs or precursors was brought against Yamanidze taking into consideration a prosecution in the past on another clause of the Criminal code of Georgia, "Novosti Georgia" reports.
During that trial Shalva Tadumadze, the detainee's attorney, demanded the detainee's release on his own guarantee and solicitation of over 40 representatives of the Georgian community but the judge denied the motion and enacted pretrial detention. "My client has committed no crime and his arrest is an absolutely groundless action", the attorney declared.
Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported detention of oppositionist Gogi Tsulaya, ex-deputy of the Parliament.
