NEWSLINK: Former Prime Minister of Georgia Convicted of Corruption

Tblisi, Georgia, File Photo with Building with Tower on Hillside and City Buildings in Valley in Distance

(“Former Prime Minister of Georgia Convicted of Corruption” – New York Times – Olesya Vartanyan, David M. Herszenhorn – February 18, 2014 – nytimes.com/2014/02/18/world/europe/former-georgian-prime-minister-convicted-of-corruption.html)

The New York Times reports that former Georgian prime minister Ivane Merabishvili has been convicted of public corruption and sentenced to five years of prison.  Although the conviction is part of a series of cases that appear to be politically motivated.

Mr. Merabishvili, widely known by the nickname Vano, was a close ally of former President Mikheil Saakashvili. Their United National Movement party was ousted from power in parliamentary elections in 2012 by Georgian Dream, a party led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire. Mr. Ivanishvili became prime minister, but resigned late last year.

More than 10 other ministers and senior officials in Mr. Saakashvili’s government have faced similar prosecutions on an array of charges.

Click here for full article: nytimes.com/2014/02/18/world/europe/former-georgian-prime-minister-convicted-of-corruption.html

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