Tbilisi City Court has referred the case of Irakli Gharibashvili for substantive consideration

A pre-trial hearing for former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was held at the Tbilisi City Court, which the defendant did not attend. The prosecution requested that the hearing be closed on the grounds that current or former officials acting as witnesses in the case are to be questioned and that state secrets might be disclosed. The defense did not agree with the motion and noted that the public should have the opportunity to observe the proceedings. Judge Lela Kalichenko did not grant the request to close the hearing. Publika+4

The issue of the admissibility of evidence was discussed at the hearing. The judge did not admit to the case a letter from Irakli Gharibashvili in which he speaks about former State Security Service head Mamuka Mdinaradze. The lawyers requested the termination of the case, but the judge referred the case to the court for substantive consideration. According to prosecutor Ana Lekiashvili, there are no legal grounds for terminating the case. Publika+4

Irakli Gharibashvili is charged with taking a bribe in an especially large amount. According to the prosecution's version, during his time as Prime Minister, he provided patronage to former Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, and in return received 750,000 GEL. The defense calls the accusation politically motivated and states that the case is based solely on the testimonies of Burchuladze and his relative, Vasil Mkheidze. According to lawyer Soso Baratashvili, it is appropriate for Gharibashvili to attend future hearings. Publika+7