Tbilisi. A five-member delegation of the European Parliament
visited ex-premier of Georgia, Secretary General of the pro-presidential party
United National Movement Ivane (Vano) Merabishvili, who was in the pre-trial
detention in Tbilisi penitentiary facility #9.
"I met with Vano Merabishvili six
weeks ago. He has lost weight and should be examined by a doctor. The issue of
his meetings with family members has not been resolved yet. In my opinion, it
would be good if his spouse and children
have possibility to visit him, receive a letter from him that is not allowed at
the present stage", parliamentarian Krzysztof Lisek told journalists after
the meeting.
He stated that it was inexpedient to keep
Merabishvili in the detention facility during
the period of investigation and pointed at political motives.
"I express again surprise why he is
in the pre-trial detention. Merabishvili came several times to the
investigation body. He left abroad five times and returned back since the
beginning of investigation. I do not see
any reason, except political, for his imprisonment", Lisek said.
Merabishvili and ex-Minister of Labor,
Health Care and Social Protection Zurab Chiaberashvili (Kakheti region governor
till recently) were detained on May 21 for involvement in the case of creation
of fictive jobs for supporters of the United National Movement in the process
of implementation of the state employment program in 2012 and MoI assets embezzlement.
.
On May 28, Merabishvili was brought new
charge pursuant to part 2 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Georgia - abuse of official powers in connection with
the case of the opposition's rally dispersal on May 26, 2011, on June 24 - of
power abuse in connection with the
murder case of official of the United Bank of Georgia Sandro Girgvliani in
2006.