17 years in prison

Guram Absandze, who served as finance minister under former Georgian President Zviad Gamsakhurdia, was sentenced on 17 August to 17 years in prison on charges of involvement in the failed attempt to assassinate President Eduard Shevardnadze in February 1998, Caucasus Press reported. Two of Shevardnadze's bodyguards died in that attack. Absandze was arrested in Smolensk in March 1998 and extradited to Tbilisi. Seven other men were sentenced on the same charges to prison terms ranging from five to 20 years, and four more received suspended sentences.