Former Georgian prime minister returns to active politics after seven year prison sentence

Former Georgian prime minister Vano Merabishvili has declared that he is returning back to active politics minutes after he was released from prison after serving a seven year prison sentence for a variety of crimes he was found guilty of, mainly related to the time that he served as the country's Interior Minister. Merabishvili still faces charges on an issue related to the closure of the TV station Imedi.

Merabishvili has not yet said which party he will join - the old United National Movement of which he was a key leader, has during the time he has been in prison split in two. It is expected that Merabishvili will try to reconcile the two factions ahead of crucial parliamentary elections in October. A defiant Merabishvili told media and well wishers who were at the prison gate to meet him that the current government will be out of power in less than a year.

source: commonspace.eu with agencies

photo: Vano Merabishvili waves to well wishers after his release from prison on 20 February 2020 (picture courtesy of Inter Press News, Tbilisi.)

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday 24 July but major disagreements remain over trade and the war in Ukraine.  The two sides issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. European Council President António Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a long-standing plea from European leaders that is likely to fall once again on deaf ears.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the EU agree on climate change action in Beijing summit but disagree on trade and Ukraine

China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday 24 July but major disagreements remain over trade and the war in Ukraine.  The two sides issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. European Council President António Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a long-standing plea from European leaders that is likely to fall once again on deaf ears.