09 January 2013, 21:00
In Georgia, nine witnesses in case against Irakli Okruashvili recall their testimonies
In the course of the court session that was held today at the Tbilisi City Court on the case against Irakli Okruashvili, ex-Minister of Defence, nine witnesses retracted their statements.
The today's court session lasted more than seven hours. The Court considered the case against Irakli Okruashvili on the charge of organizing or leading an illegal armed formation, providing sentence of up to nine years of imprisonment.
"All nine witnesses retracted their testimonies given against Irakli Okruashvili. All of them reported in details how they were tortured, threatened and beaten only to sign testimonies against Irakli Okruashvili. They mentioned the names of the people who threatened them and beat them. At present, I will now mention them; however, I can say that the case involves more than a dozen persons. And we will bring the case to the Prosecutor's Office for further investigation into it," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Zviad Kordzadze, the advocate of Irakli Okruashvili.
According to his story, the prosecutors asked the court to change the restriction measure to the defendant to release on bail of 10,000 laris (about 6000 US dollars).
Author: Edita Badasyan Source: CK correspondent