Adjarian leader ready to release Tengiz Asanidze

Adjarian leader Aslan Abashidze is ready to release from custody Tengiz Asanidze, former mayor of Batumi and a former deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the autonomous republic. Aslan Abashidze announced it in his interview with Adjarian TV Company, saying he would personally provide all security measures to convey Tengiz Asanidze from Batumi to Tbilisi on April 9. However, the head of the republic did not rule out the possibility of acts of revenge on the part of the families suffered from the actions of Asanidze brothers. There are several such families since the Asanidze brothers are guilty of murdering several people, Mr Abashidze added.

In his opinion, the international court did not take into consideration the interests of these people and their rights, it took into consideration only Tengiz Asanidze's interests.

The international court in Strasbourg announced its decision on April 8 that Tengiz Asanidze should be released. The verdict reads: "To release Tengiz Asanidze from custody as soon as possible and to oblige the state to pay 150 thousand euro to him and 5 thousand euro to his lawyer."

Editors note: See also the article "Saakashvili urges Abashidze to release former mayor of Batumi".