TBILISI, June 6 (RAPSI, Maggie Kikaleishvili) - The lawyers of former Georgian Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili, the general secretary of the pro-presidential United National Movement party, who was arrested for alleged involvement in the dispersal of a rally in Tbilisi in 2011, plan to refer the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The Kutaisi City Court earlier ruled to detain Merabishvili for the duration of the investigation. He has been charged with bribing the electorate, embezzling public funds and abusing office. A Georgian appeals court dismissed the appeal against his detainment. Soon afterward, the Tbilisi City Court ruled that Merabishvili must remain in detainment on the abuse of office charge.

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

The riot police attacked the protesters when the 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.

These charges will be added to earlier corruption charges.

Merabishvili was charged along with former Labor, Health and Social Security Minister Zurab Chiaberashvili. Both men have been accused of giving fictitious jobs to hundreds of United National Movement activists who were involved in the party's parliamentary election campaign in 2012.

They may face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.