TBILISI, May 27 (RAPSI, Megi Kikaleishvili) - The appeals court has upheld the arrest of former Georgian Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili, rejecting his attorneys' appeal.

Merabishvili, head of the United National Movement (UNM), was arrested on corruption charges and placed in pretrial remand, while another suspect in the case, Kakheti Region Governor and former Minister of Labor, Healthcare and Social Security Zurab Chiaberashvili, has been released on bail of 20,000 lari (circa $12,300).

The two officials have been accused of creating fictitious jobs for UNM supporters during the 2012 state employment program, and of misappropriation of state funds. Furthermore, they are still being investigated on other charges.

Currently, they have been charged with bribing voters, major misappropriation of funds via taking advantage of their official status, and abuse of office.