Pardon for Israeli businessmen jailed in Georgia

Roni Fuchs, Ze'ev Frenkel were originally convicted of attempting to bribe Georgia's deputy foreign minister.

Prison jail generic (photo credit: Courtesy)
Prison jail generic
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili announced Friday that two Israeli businessmen have been pardoned after they were sentenced to lengthy prison terms by a Georgian court in April.
Roni Fuchs and Ze’ev Frenkel were convicted of attempting to bribe a deputy finance minister and were sent by a court in Tbilisi to seven years and six and a half years respectively, and ordered to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
RELATED:Israeli businessmen get lengthy prison terms in GeorgiaPolice recommend charges of bribery for two mayorsIsrael-loving Georgian economy minister promises as tourist
The men were arrested by Georgian police last year after being accused of offering the country’s deputy finance minister five million dollars in order to hasten a 100 million dollar compensation payment owed to Fox and a Greek partner.
The compensation payment was owed due to the cancellation of an oil and gas distribution contract with the Georgian government, the News 1 website reported.
The arrests took place immediately after the mens’ meeting with government official, which was secretly reported. Clips from the meeting have been aired on Georgian television. Police raided the restaurant where the men were sitting.
The attorney accused Georgia of violating international law and the human rights of his client.