14:00, 9 July 2011

Tbilisi court leaves photographers accused of spying in custody

Today, the Tbilisi City Court has ruled to appoint pre-trial detention to the photographers detained on espionage charges.

Today at night, three Georgian photographers – Giorgi Abdaladze, Zurab Kurtsikhidze and Irakli Gedenidze – saw charges under the article of espionage. The detained Natia Gedenidze was released.

Reporters were told by Ramaz Chinchaladze, an advocate of one of the detainees, Giorgi Abdaladze, that the court had satisfied the demand of the prosecution and dismissed the petition of the defence to release the detainees on bail.

According to the lawyer, the trial will begin on September 1 and be held behind closed doors. The advocate has added that his client refused to plead guilty, the "Interfax" reports.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State expects a fair trial of the detained Georgian photographers, said the State Department's spokesperson Victoria Nuland. "We look forward to a free, fair and transparent investigation," the "News-Georgia" quotes her as saying.