Georgia’s Akhaltsikhe Regional Court yesterday sentenced Ararat Saharyan and Meruzhan Hovhannisyan (the Akhalkalaki Market Director and Chief Supervisor) to four years imprisonment after being found guilty of commercial bribery.

The two were arrested in May of last year.

Hovhannisyan refutes the charge and considers himself a political prisoner, claiming he’s a victim of the political machinations of the former government.

He will appeal the court’s decision.