Patarkatsishvili Ally Charged with Plotting Coup

MP Valery Gelbakhiani, who for a time headed Badri Patarkatsishvili?s presidential campaign headquarters, has been charged with conspiring to overthrow the government, the General Prosecutor?s Office said on January 22.

In a short press statement the General Prosecutor?s Office said that it had already notified Parliament. Lawmakers enjoy immunity from prosecution and can only be stripped of this protection by fellow parliamentarians.

In December Gelbakhiani was declared an official suspect in a conspiracy to overthrow the government. He has since fled the country, but said he was willing to give testimony to investigators, provided he was first granted a meeting with representatives from either the EU or UN.

The General Prosecutor?s Office launched the investigation into ?an attempt to forcefully overthrow the government? on December 17, after Irakli Kodua, head of the Interior Ministry?s Special Operations Department (SOD), notified investigators that Marina Gabunia, a former judge, and Gelbakhiani had tried to bribe him in exchange for taking part in the alleged conspiracy.

The General Prosecutor’s Office released a covertly recorded video tape, in which Gelbakhiani tells Kodua about planned post-election unrest.

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