Merabishvili v. Georgia

Information Note on the Court’s case-law 197June 2016Merabishvili v. Georgia - 72508/13Judgment 14.6.2016 [Section IV]Article 18Restrictions for unauthorised purposesPre-trial detention of politician and leader of opposition party, allegedly performed only to exclude him from the political life of the country: violation[This case was referred to the Grand Chamber on 17 October 2016]Facts – The applicant was a Georgian politician who had formerly held high-ranking State offices, including those of Minister of the Interior and Prime Minister, and was the leader of the strongest opposition party. Between 2012 and 2013, soon after the change of power resulting from the parliamentary election of October 2012, criminal proceedings were instituted against him for abuse of power and other offences. The applicant was subsequently placed in pre-trial detention. In 2014 he was convicted of the majo …