17 September 2015, 02:33
Supporters of Gigi Ugulava hold protest action with demand to release him
In Tbilisi, in front of the buildings of the prison No. 9 and the Georgian Ministry of Probation, protesters have demanded to release immediately Gigi Ugulava, whose detention in custody is recognized as unconstitutional.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that starting from July 4, 2014, Gigi Ugulava, the former Mayor of Tbilisi, is being kept in custody in the case of pressure on members of the election commission during the electoral campaign in 2014. Gigi Ugulava is also charged with embezzlement in Mtatsminda Park, legalization of illegal proceeds, and failure to prevent embezzlement of budget funds in the amount of 28 million US dollars. Gigi Ugulava himself and his supporters have called the case a political persecution. On September 16, the Georgian Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the continued detention of Gigi Ugulava in custody.
After the announcement of the decision of the Georgian Constitutional Court, members of the "United National Movement" (UNM) Party of former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and members of NGOs have gathered in front of the prison No. 9, where Gigi Ugulava is being kept, and in front of the Georgian Ministry of Probation. The protesters demand to release the former Tbilisi Mayor, the RIA "Novosti" reports.
Beki Basilaya, an advocate of Gigi Ugulava, has noted that according to the law, the decision pronounced by the Georgian Constitutional Court is final and is to be fulfilled. Therefore, according to the advocate, since the announcement of the Court's decision, the detention of Gigi Ugulava in custody is illegal, the "News-Georgia" reports.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
