Georgian ex-defence minister sentenced for eight months

The Tbilisi City Court has sentenced former Georgian Minister of Defence Irakli Okruashvili to eight months in prison for failing to comply with a summons from the parliamentary temporary investigative commission.

The verdict, delivered by Judge Tamar Mchedlishvili, also bars Okruashvili from holding public office for two years, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media. 

According to the court, he was found guilty under Article 349 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which pertains to the refusal to cooperate with a temporary parliamentary investigative commission. The offense is punishable by a fine, imprisonment of up to one year, or a ban on holding official positions for up to three years.

The charges stem from Okruashvili’s refusal to appear before the commission on March 26, when he was summoned to provide testimony. Despite being granted the opportunity, the former minister did not attend the court hearing and waived his right to deliver a final statement.

Okruashvili has been in custody for nearly a month following his refusal to pay bail. 

Okruashvili served as Minister of Defence from 2004 to 2006 during the presidency of Mikheil Saakashvili.

By Sabina Mammadli