TBILISI, September 22 (RAPSI) – The trial of ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili on charges of the dispersal of an opposition rally in November 2007, the raid of Imedi television station offices and the seizure of billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili’s property has been delayed until November 19, RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing the ex-president’s attorney Otar Kakhidze.
The case was opened under Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia on the abuse of power, the use of violence or a weapon, and the breach of the dignity of a victim.
The pre-trial hearing at the Tbilisi City Court was scheduled for September 22. Saakashvili is being investigated under several other cases.
He left Georgia immediately after the inauguration of President Georgy Margvelashvili in November 2013 and subsequently moved to the US, where he took up teaching. However, over the past few months, he has regularly visited Kiev to give informal consultations to local officials amid the ongoing crisis.
Saakashvili has also refused to answer any questions or otherwise cooperate with investigative authorities.
He is on the national wanted list, and the Chief Prosecutor’s Office has initiated the procedure for putting him on the international wanted list.