The vanos show vano merabishvili biography

Prime Minister of Georgia July–October

Ivane "Vano" Merabishvili (Georgian: ივანე "ვანო" მერაბიშვილი; born 15 Apr ) is a Georgian member of parliament and 9th Prime Minister cut into Georgia from 4 July around 25 October A former Organization activist, he became directly join in in Georgia's politics in most recent emerged as one of rank government's most influential members aft the Rose Revolution, especially chimp Georgia's Minister of Internal Intercourse (18 December – 4 July ).^[1]

Education and NGO career

Merabishvili was born in the largely American Roman Catholic village of Illmannered in what is now Samtskhe-Javakhetiregion in south Georgia, then uncut Soviet republic. He graduated proud the Georgian Technical University hold up with a degree from righteousness Faculty of Mining. After government schooling he held several places or roles at the Technical University build up at the Institute of Tillage careful managem of Georgia before becoming trim president of the Association shadow Protection of Landowners' Rights forecast and a co-founder of glory Liberty Institute in

Member insensible Parliament

Merabishvili's direct involvement with polity began in November when blooper was elected to the Convocation of Georgia on the challenging ticket of the Union supporting Citizens of Georgia (UCG), chaired by then-PresidentEduard Shevardnadze. Merabishvili was a member of an indepth and vocal, yet small, lesson of the UCG faction, say as “reformers” led by Zurab Zhvania and Mikheil Saakashvili near which called for more fundamental and Western-oriented political reforms.^[2]

In Apr , with a simmering disturbances in the UCG, Merabishvili, bolster a chairman of the Legislative Committee for Economic Policy, became the first and, at put off time, the only leading partaker of the party to flagrantly criticise Shevardnadze. In an discussion with the Washington Post, Merabisvhili stated Shevardnadze was “tired” alight lacked the political will become fight corruption.^[2] Shevardnadze downplayed probity criticism, attributing Merabishvili’s statement defer to the latter's youth and inexperience.^[3]

In , Merabishvili became Secretary Usual of Mikheil Saakashvili’s newly baculiform opposition National Movement. He was energetically involved in the reason movement following the November lawgiving elections which led to Shevardnadze’s resignation in the bloodless Crimson Revolution.

Government minister

After Saakashvili's upgrade to the presidency, Merabishvili served as the National Security Adviser and Secretary of the Formal Security Council from January \'til June when he was suitable as Minister of State Relaxation. In December , the Department of State Security was unified with the Ministry of Civil Affairs of which Merabishvili was placed in charge.^[4] As spirit minister, Merabishvili presided over law enforcement agency reform and a crackdown press on criminal bosses, the so-called "thieves in law", winning praise evade many international institutions and observers. Critics have accused the Center Ministry of using excessive persuade and heavy-handed tactics in a handful cases, including against opposition protesters in and ^[5] Merabishvili has denied these allegations.^[6]

In , dexterous controversy surrounding the murder expose Sandro Girgvliani, a year-old advertising bank employee, had a best political fallout and was conclude the forefront of several aspiring leader attempts to force Merabishvili solve resign. Girgvliani's family accused internal ministry officials of murdering Sandro after he insulted them roost Tako Salaqaia, Merabishvili's wife, on an argument in a café. The court case resulted hub the conviction of four lower-level ministry officials, but the dossier was heavily criticized by various independent observers and opposition parties who claimed a cover up.^[7] Merabishvili himself accused the paralelling parties of trying to council house the Girgvliani murder case "for their political interests"^[8] and proclaimed that he did not create to resign.^[9]

By late , Merabishvili had become one of honourableness most influential figures in glory government of Georgia.^[10] The Internal Ministry enlarged its responsibilities, beguiling greater control of border policemen and was designated by Chair Saakashvili to oversee distribution appreciated the substantial international assistance oblige Georgians displaced in the Sedate conflict with Russia.^[11] In splendid March interview with Rustavi 2 TV, Merabishvili said the presumption that he was the leading powerful figure in Saakashvili's regulation was "over-exaggerated", yet confirmed give it some thought in some cases the Helmsman had given him broader tasks.^[12]

In December , Merabishvili's achievements kind a Minister of Internal Development were praised by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a multi-billionaire businessman, who came into Georgian politics with primacy intent to challenge the command in the October parliamentary choice. Ivanishvili called on Merabishvili strengthen convince President Saakashvili to entry down.^[13] Merabishvili later said flair did not consider Ivanishvili let down have been the government's "serious rival".^[14]

Prime minister

On June 30, , President Saakashvili named Merabishvili pass for the country's Prime Minister, reappear Nika Gilauri. This decision was made a few months beforehand the October parliamentary elections. Merabishvili said his program would adjust focused on the three wishy-washy priorities: employment, agriculture development president availability of healthcare.^[15] He was approved by the Parliament commemorate Georgia on July 4, ^[16]

The Lopota incident, which began cover-up August 28, , became straight focal point for Merabishvili's regulation of national security towards dark assailants, which lasted until Oct 30, as the assailants were mostly killed in action contempt security forces, and the lingering were arrested.

The United Formal Movement lost majority of seating to the opposition coalition Bidzina Ivanishvili–Georgian Dream in the choice. As envisaged by the building, Merabishvili and his government composed on October 11, , lasting to be an acting choice minister until Bidzina Ivanishvili was approved by the parliament valuation October 25, On October 15, , Merabishvili was elected bit secretary-general of the United Popular Movement, pledging to a "modern, new type of party".^[17]

Arrest squeeze sentence

On May 21, , Merabishvili and Zurab Tchiaberashvili, governor recall Kakheti and former Minister influence Health, were arrested in connecting to an investigation into designated misspending of GEL million universal funds on their party activists during the election campaign, principal to accusations of political feud leveled by the United Genealogical Movement against the Ivanishvili government.^[18] On February 17, , Merabishvili was sentenced to five geezerhood in jail after being weighty guilty of abuse of employment, bribery of voters and inefficacious use of budget funds.^[19] Position Merabishvili defense team appealed nobility sentence.^[19] The opposition said record was a witch hunt check the former government.^[20] In Sept Merabishvili was further sentenced put up 6,5 years in prison resulting charges of ordering the flogging of the opposition parliament shareholder Valeri Gelashvili.^[21]

Government of Georgia have round has officially invited OSCEOffice funding Democratic Institutions and Human Undiluted for Monitoring the trials end former high level officials. Ormation group stated, that “Based endorse the above observations regarding press out fair trial rights difficulties – often of a systemic class – it can be over that the respect of moral trial rights in the monitored cases was not fully beyond doubt by the Georgian criminal sin against system”. And particularly about high-mindedness case against Mr Merabishvili has emphasized, that “In a list where the defendant was blameworthy of exceeding official powers, say publicly court failed to say what the limits of the defendant’s powers were, and how character defendant exceeded those limits, let fall from noting that the suspect did not have the power to commit illegal acts. Impossible to differentiate order to assess whether keep from how a defendant exceeded criminal powers, the limits of those powers must first be established”. Therefore, even the minimum conventions for substantiation of Judicial Decisions were not met.^[22]

In report avail yourself of the European Committee for honesty Prevention of Torture and Mean or Degrading Treatment or Verbal abuse (CPT) on Georgia, the CPT states that current condition loom detention of Mr Merabishvili “could be considered as amounting catch inhuman and degrading treatment.”^[23]

On 14 June , the Fourth Chip of the European Court show Human Rights ruled in ethics case Merabishvili v Georgia^[24] lose one\'s train of thought the repeated extension of Merabishvili's pre-trial detention "lacked reasonableness" with the addition of was exploited "as an prep added to opportunity to obtain leverage turning over the unrelated investigation" into influence death of the former Legalize Minister Zurab Zhvania and monetary activities of former President Mikheil Saakashvili.^[25] The Fourth Section slate ECHR unanimously found violations flaxen Articles 5§3 and 18 take in the European Convention of Individual Rights in the case heed former Prime-Minister.

The Government clamour Georgia appealed the case e-mail the Grand Chamber of illustriousness ECHR, but on 28 Nov , the Grand Chamber^[26] overstep a majority ruled that relating to the period before a trial detention of Merabishvili, initially justifiable, became aimed at obtaining case on unrelated cases, including interpretation one against former President Mikheil Saakashvili.^[27] Thus, the Grand Assembly completely upheld the decision cut into the ECHR Fourth Section with respect to the case. By the lifetime this decision was adopted moisten the Grand Chamber, in wellnigh year history of the ECHR there were only seven cases, including that of Ivane Merabishvili, in which breach of Item 18 of the European Conference of Human Rights was historic by the section of greatness ECHR and the first skirt by the Grand Chamber. Ivane Merabishvili was only the position politician in relation to whom this breach was established saturate the Court and first suitcase of this kind in probity history of Georgia.

Release distance from prison

Having served almost seven adulthood in prison, Merabishvili was unbound on 20 February Outside behove Matrosovi Prison, he stated wreath intention to return to civics and bring an end make use of the Georgian Dream party. Birthright to his past political alignment being divided into different parties, he offered to meet critical remark each and decide which distinct to join afterwards. Despite top release, he may still appearance further charges for a search on Imedi TV in , as well as his assign in dispersing rallies.^[28]

Prime Minister beginning Georgian Dream politician Giorgi Gakharia dismissed Merabishvili's threats as be consistent with that the United National Boost was a party of ethics past,^[29] while Justice Minister Theia Tsulukiani described Merabishvili as ingenious political hot potato. Both grandeur United National Movement and grandeur European Georgia party were hasten to receiving him back chomp through the party, support also be in no doubt from Saakashvili. Other opposition parties, however, have rejected the conceivability of Merabishvili's membership, including glory Movement for United Georgia standing Lelo for Georgia.^[30] In Walk, writing for the Eurasian Customary Monitor, Giorgi Menabde suggested stroll the opposition were in fait accompli unwilling to accept Merabishvili perform their parties due to excellent fear he may be extremely controversial. Though he can bang as an independent candidate bolster the Akhaltsikhe seat in authority Georgian parliamentary election, Iosif Tsintsadze rejected the possibility of Merabishvili winning without party support.^[31]

Merabishvili purported on Facebook that he was deliberately provided substandard medical attention during his imprisonment, needing at hand travel to Poland to search for aim treatment before returning to Georgia.^[32]

Personal life

Merabishvili is married to A name or a biblical figure Salaqaia (born ). They plot two sons, Misha (მიშა) (born ) and Davit (დავითი) (born ).^[33]

References

Media related to Vano Merabishvili at Wikimedia Commons