Additional criminal charges related to the alleged misspending of public funds have been filed against Gigi Ugulava, a former Tbilisi mayor and a leading member of the opposition United National Movement party.
Georgia's Finance Ministry said on June 30 that the new probe against Ugulava is linked to alleged large-scale embezzlement of budget funds.
Ugulava, an ally of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, was charged with misuse of municipal funds last year. Investigations into that case continue.
Ugulava told reporters on June 30 that he had been questioned by investigators and said that all of the charges against him are politically motivated.
A number of investigations have been launched against Saakashvili associates after his party lost parliamentary elections in October 2012.
