Re-arrest of joint staff chief of Georgian armed forces demanded

The Georgian Office of the Prosecutor has requested Tbilisi court issues an arrest warrant for the former chief of joint staff of the Georgian armed forces Giorgi Kalandadze, who was released on bail last week. This was reported on Tuesday at a briefing by Georgian Chief Prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili.

According to him, the petition is predetermined by new details within already filed charge on abuse of power under Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

The prosecutor said that all 19 victims have already given evidence which is sufficient to demand the arrest of Kalandadze.

Kbilashvili also said that the court will make a decision on the request today. Former Georgian Interior and Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia, former chief of joint staff of Georgian armed forces Giorgi Kalandadze and brigade commander Zurab Shamatava are all accused of mistreating soldiers.

They are charged under part 3 of Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which includes abuse of power followed by 'an insult to the personal dignity of the victim.', which carries imprisonment from five to eight years.

Akhalaia had additional charges filed against him under article 143 namely 'illegal suppression of freedom'. This article carries imprisonment of up to 12 years.

All three detainees deny the charges.


/Trend/