Case on abuse of power instituted after ECtHR decision on Vano Merabishvili's complaint

The Georgian General Prosecutor's Office has instituted a criminal case on abuse of power associated with the night interrogation in 2013 of Vano Merabishvili, former Prime Minister of Georgia, after the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) had recognized the fact of violation of the politician's rights.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 14, the ECtHR recognized as unreasonable the decision on the Vano Merabishvili's detention pronounced by the Georgian court on September 25, 2013.

According to the ECtHR's decision, published on the Court's website, the resolution states that the Georgian law enforcement bodies left without response the complaint stating that at night of December 14, 2013, Vano Merabishvili was taken from prison for interrogation to the General Prosecutor, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

On the basis of the ECtHR's decision, the Investigating Department of the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia launched an investigation into possible abuse of power by some civil servants associated with the call of Vano Merabishvili for interrogation, the General Prosecutor's Office of Georgia reported on June 21.

However, advocate Oto Kakhidze, representing the interests of Vano Merabishvili, doubts the fact that the investigation into the case on the night interrogation will be conducted properly.

"The case involves top-ranking officials, including former Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, former Prosecutor Otar Partskhaladze, and Sozar Subari, the former Minister of Corrections, and the current Minister for Refugees. So, the case will be most likely limited to a formal investigation," Oto Kakhidze told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.