Court Sentences David Mirtskhulava to Ten Years in Prison

Court Sentences David Mirtskhulava to Ten  Years in Prison

Tbilsi. 30.03.05. Media News. The Tbilisi Mtatsminda-Krtsanisi District Court has handed down a ten year prison term for the former minister of energy David Mirtskhulava.

 The decision made by presiding judge Miler Kharebava was based on part 4 of artical 59 of the Criminal Code. Under  this ruling Mirtskhulava will have to serve his sentence for 10 years at the Penitentiary Department.

According to Eka Beselia, the lawyer representing Mirtskhulava, she will make an appeal in Regional Court against the judgement of the District Court. Meanwile, the Court of Human Rights in  Strasbourg has already begun an investigation of the case, the results of which should be known in near future.

Mirtskhulava’s family considers the judge’s decision as unlawful and has called for all rulings made by Miler Kharebava to be revised.

The former Minister of Energy, Mirtskhulava,  was arrested in December of 2004 for alleged  misuse of his power as minister.