Former Justice Minister Adeishvili Sentenced to 1.6 Years in Prison in Absentia

The Tbilisi City Court has today sentenced former Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili to 1.6 years in prison in absentia in connection with the shutdown of the Iberia TV station and forced deprivation of a broadcasting license. In addition, he has been banned from holding public office for two years.

Initially, the former Justice Minister was sentenced to two years in prison and was deprived of his right to hold office for a term of three years, though the Law on Amnesty reduced his sentence by one-fourth to 1.6 years, while the ban on holding office was reduced to two years.

Adeishvili’s deputy, Giorgi Latsabidze, charged in the same case, was fined GEL 40,000.

Both former government officials are charged with abuse of power in 2016 under Article 333 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

In addition, Adeishvili was sentenced to 5 years and 3 months of imprisonment in Cartu Bank's bankruptcy case in December 2019. 

He is accused of abuse of power and hiding property through fraudulent transactions in the case of Cartu Bank along with Nika Melia, a member of the United National Movement (UNM). 

They were charged in the mentioned case in 2013.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Related Story: Former Justice Minister Sentenced to Imprisonment in Cartu Bank Case