A court has discussed a preventive measure for blogger Ucha Abashidze and his wife Mariam Iashvili and sentenced them to pre-trial detention.

The pretrial hearing was scheduled for July 2.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA) arrested blogger Ucha Abashidze on May 9 for allegedly illegally purchasing and storing weapons and ammunition; His wife was detained on May 11.

The MIA stated that Ucha Abashidze, together with his wife “intended to illegally obtain and store the secrets of private lives of various individuals, in particular, the materials depicting an intimate relationship.”

The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia (POG) noted that blogger Ucha Abashidze and his wife were charged with illegally obtaining and keeping secrets of private life.

“Based on the MIA investigation, the recording devices were installed in different parts of the living room, including household items and appliances. In addition, M.I.’s contact information was placed on those internet websites where sexual services are offered. After an agreement or a meeting was arranged with a particular person and he arrived at the mentioned apartment, the accused person illegally obtained and kept records of the intimate relationship through specially installed devices on a regular basis,” reads the POG statement.