MOSCOW, August 4 (RAPSI) – The defense lawyers for ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and two former ministers Zurab Adeishvili and David Kezerashvili, who have been detained in absentia on charges of abuse of power, turned to the Tbilisi Appeal Court, RIA Novosti reported Monday, citing Georgian TV channel Rustavi 2.

On July 28, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia brought criminal charges against Saakashvili in a case that includes charges of dispersing an opposition rally in November 2007, the raid of television broadcaster Imedi, plus the seizure of billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili’s property. The case was opened on Article 333 Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Georgia on excessive use of power, use of violence or a weapon, and the breach of the dignity of a victim.

Former minister of justice Adeishvili and ex-defense minister Kezerashvili were also charged with abuse of power. On August 2, the Tbilisi City Court ordered the pre-trial detention of Saakashvili, Adeishvili and Kezerashvili in absentia.

Saakashvili left Georgia immediately after the inauguration of the new president last November and has not returned to his home country since. In late 2013, he moved to the US where he took up a teaching position. However, over the past few months, he has regularly visited Kiev to give informal consultations to local officials.