ECHR to Announce Judgment over Asanidze Case

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce on April 8 judgment in the case of Tengiz Asanidze, who is currently in custody in Adjarian Autonomy.

Despite the fact that he was given a pardon by ex-President Shevardnadze in 1999, and his conviction was quashed by the Georgian Supreme Court, he still remains in the custody.

Asanidze appealed the ECHR claiming that his detention is unlawful and that he has no effective remedy available from the national courts to secure his release. 

Tengiz Asanidze was the mayor of the town of Batumi. He was arrested on 4 October 1993 and charged with illegal financial dealings in the Batumi Tobacco Manufacturing Company.

In 1994 he was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment and orders were made for the confiscation of his assets. Asanidze was given a pardon by President Shevardnadze in 1999, but was not released by the local authorities of Adjara.

In 1999 Asanidze, who remained in custody despite the presidential pardon, was charged in a new case and sentenced to twelve-year imprisonment by the Adjarian court.

President Saakashvili demanded Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze to release Asanidze.