Ugulava v. Georgia (no. 2)

Legal summaryFebruary 2024Ugulava v. Georgia (no. 2) - 22431/20Judgment 1.2.2024 [Section V]Article 6Criminal proceedingsArticle 6-1Impartial tribunalApplicant’s points-of-law appeal heard by Supreme Court bench including judge who had been Prosecutor General when case examined by appeal court and points-of-law appeal prepared by his office: violationFacts – In December 2013 the applicant, a political figure who at the time was serving as mayor of Tbilisi, was charged with aggravated embezzlement. The investigation was conducted by the investigative unit of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office (subsequently renamed the General Prosecutor’s Office). In February 2018 that charge was reclassified at first instance and the applicant was convicted of exceeding official powers – a conviction upheld on appeal. He received a sentence of imprisonment (one year, three months and twenty-two days). In Janu …