Gocha Tsiklauri from Nino Burjanadze’s Party Is Sentenced to Two-Month Pre-trial Detention

Mileri Kharebava, judge at Tbilisi City Court, sentenced Gocha Tsiklauri, representative of the Democratic Movement for the United Georgia to two-month pre-trial detention.

The judge did not satisfy the solicitation of the attorney of Tsiklauri on releasing the detainee under bail of 10 000 GEL. The investigation stated in its solicitation that freedom of Gocha Tsiklauri might hinder the investigation because he can disappear.

According to the attorney, the article under which Gocha Tsiklauri was judged, envisages imprisonment for 5 years.

“Solicitation on bailing the detainee is requested in 75 % of similar criminal cases at the court; the rest 25 % is settled based on past criminal record of the detainee. Tsiklauri does not have criminal record,” said Irakli Grdzelidze, the attorney who added that the detainee does not plead guilty.

The attorney claimed that the pistol discovered during the search together with three bullets on the detainee did not belong to Gocha Tsiklauri.

“He had right to have weapon; he owns registered guns and did not need to carry illegal weapon at all,” said the attorney.

Gocha Tsiklauri demands the expertise to check the finger-prints on the gun; however, the investigation did not invite the expertise.

Tsiklauri states that he is innocent and is ready to cooperate with the investigation to estimate the truth.

Gocha Tsiklauri worked at the Ministry of Internal Affairs before 2006. On June 6, member of the central office of Nino Burjanadze’s political party was arrested for illegal purchase, storage and carriage of weapon.

Source: Interpressnews