Three Georgian Activists Sent To Pretrial Detention

A Georgian court has ruled that three former members of an opposition coalition must be held in pretrial detention for 60 days pending an ongoing investigation into allegations of bribery.

On June 5, independent television Rustavi 2 showed footage of Mikheil Meskhi, Mikheil Amashukeli, and Gagi Amaglobeli promising voters gifts worth 1,000 laris ($617), while distributing leaflets promoting the Georgian Dream opposition coalition ahead of parliamentary elections in October.

The Georgian Dream has accused Georgia's current government of political pressure but expelled the three activists from its ranks on June 7.

The Georgian Dream is led by tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, who says he intends to run for president next year when incumbent Mikheil Saakashvili's second term ends.

With reporting by Interfax