TBILISI, DFWatch–Tbilisi City Court placed Vano Merabishvili in pre-trial detention; the second time such a measures is imposed on the former interior minister.

This time additional charged were added since his hearing in Kutaisi City Court last week, dealing with abuse of powers in connection with the violent police action against anti-government protesters on May 26, 2011.

Merabishvili’s trial is scheduled to start July 10, 2013.

During yesterday’s hearing the Saakashvili ally said he is proud to be the first prime minister to be detained, but he is sure that he will be able to prove his innocence.

“My detention is not a coincidence, when every one of the thieves in law who I detained are released by this regime. On this background it is logical that I, as the one who fought against them, will be sitting in jail,” he remarked.

Merabishvili said the Rose Revolution, fighting with thieves in law, detaining spies, creating new police and safe environment was enough for him and he was planning to leave politics in two years.

His lawyers plan to appeal court’s decision at the Appeals Court. Giorgi Chiviashvili, one of the lawyers told journalists that prosecutor didn’t have grounds to demand preliminary detention for Merabishvili.