gigi-ugulava

Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–A decision by the city court to suspend Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava pending a corruption trial has been upheld in the Appeals Court.

Both the Prosecutor’s Office and Ugulava’s defense lawyers appealed the city court’s decision. The Prosecutor’s Office wanted the mayor to be placed in pre-trial detention, but the city court instead set a bail of 50 000 lari (USD 30 000).

Later, the court also suspended him because it would would interfere with the investigation if he remained in office until the trial.

Ugulava is charged with embezzlement.. According to investigators he cooperated with other City Hall employees in using money meant for refurbishing the capital to finance the National Movement’s election campaign in 2012.