TBILISI, May 29 (RAPSI) – The Georgian Prosecutor General’s Office has brought abuse-of-office charges against former Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili, who faces five to eight years in prison as a result, RIA Novosti reports Wednesday.

Merabishvili is said to have ordered a large-scale operation against protest rally held in central Tbilisi in May 2011. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili and was intended to disrupt the Independence Day Parade. The rally was dispersed by the police, which used water canons, tear gas, rubber bullets and clubs.

The riot police attacked the protesters when sanctioned time for the rally ran out. Four people reportedly died during the operation, including one protester and one policeman, who were hit by the opposition leaders’ cars. Two other persons, whose bodies were found on the roof of a one-storey shop, died of electric shock, according to the investigators.

The Kutaisi City Court earlier ruled to keep Merabishvili in detention for the duration of the trial.

These charges will be stacked on top of earlier corruption charges. Merabishvili was charged along with the former Labor, Health and Social Security Minister Zurab Chiaberashvili. Both men have been accused of giving fictitious jobs to hundreds of United National Movement (UNM) activists who were involved in the party's parliamentary election campaign in 2012. They may face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.