The Tbilisi City Court on Tuesday sentenced the former deputy head of the State Security Service, Soso Gogashvili, to five years in prison. 

Gogashvili, who took the post under the Georgian Dream government, was arrested on July 16.

He was later charged with abuse of official power, illegal acquisition, storage, release of personal data and illegal purchase and storage of firearms and ammunition. 

Gogashvili claims he is a “political prisoner”, accusing the current authorities of alleged rigging of elections and other potential offenses.