Trial on Former Head of Kakheti Unit of the Constitutional Security Department Was Postponed for the Fourth Time

Mikheil Mamalashvili, Kakheti

On November 12, Telavi District Court postponed trial on the case of Zurab Laliashvili, former head of the Kakheti unit of the Constitutional Security Department of MIA, for his absence. The defense side lawyer Mamuka Mirotadze said Zurab Laliashvili has health problems.

At the previous trial, Mirotadze promised he would provide doctor’s notification on his client’s illness though despite the promises, Laliashvili did not provide any medical documents from September 5 to November 12.

Prosecutor Manana Tandashvili at the Kakheti Regional Prosecutor’s Office said unless Zurab Laliashvili appears at the next trial and neither notification on his illness is provided, they will apply all legal measures against him. “The trial was postponed because Zurab Laliashvili did not appear to the court; however the defense side failed to provide necessary documents to prove that he could not come because of health problems. Consequently, he was warned to prove the allegation with relevant documents unless the accused person appears at the next trial. Otherwise, legal measures will be implemented against him,” Prosecutor Tandashvili said.

Prosecutor’s Office charged Zurab Laliashvili under Article 333 Part III – B of the Criminal Code of Georgia – abuse of professional power. The crime is punished with imprisonment from 5 to 8 years. According to MIA, Zurab Liliashvili, together with his former deputy Davit Lortkipanidze, intimidated businessman Aleksandre Megutnishvili, resident of Tsinandali village, after what in March 2011 Megutnishvili purchased three cars for the Constitutional Security Department of MIA. According to official information, law enforcement officers arrested Zurab Laliashvili on July 16, 2013 when crossing the border. He had been internationally sought since November 2012. 

At the trial on July 17, the defense side filed written solicitation to the court and requested to change preventive measure – imprisonment – into bail. Prosecutor Manana Tandashvili supported the solicitation. Judge Labaza Duishvili upheld the solicitation and released Laliashvili from the courtroom under the bail of 2000 lari. Next trial on Laliashvili is scheduled at 13:00 pm on November 29.