Opposition politician and leader of Strategy Agmashenebeli Giorgi Vashadze has been granted bail of GEL 30,000 in the so-called sabotage case. Under the court’s decision, Vashadze has also been ordered to surrender his ID card and passport.
The ruling was issued on January 26 by Judge Mzia Garshaulishvili of the Tbilisi City Court.
Vashadze was released from prison three days earlier, on January 23. He had been serving a seven-month sentence imposed by Judge Nino Galustashvili for failing to appear before a temporary investigative commission established by the parliament dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
Commenting on the latest decision, Vashadze said he intends to pay the bail.
Criminal proceedings against Giorgi Vashadze have been launched under Articles 318(1) and 319 of Georgia’s Criminal Code, which relate to sabotage and assisting a foreign state in hostile activities. These charges carry a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
In addition to Vashadze, criminal prosecution on charges of crimes against the state has been initiated against seven other opposition leaders, including former president Mikheil Saakashvili, as well as Nika Gvaramia, Nika Melia, Zurab Girchi Japaridze, Elene Khoshtaria, Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze.
Image: Radio Tavisupleba
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