The Tbilisi City Court sentenced Irakli Batiashvili of an opposition Forward Georgia party to a two-month pre-trial detention on July 30 after he has been charged with having links to a coup attempt staged by rebel warlord Emzar Kvitsiani. Batiashvili, who was Georgias security chief in early 90s, was arrested on July 29. He has denied charges and described his arrest as politically-motivated. Prosecutors say Batiashvili gave recommendations and instructions to Emzar Kvitsiani to plot a coup against the Georgian government. Attorney lawyer of Batiashvili said that charges are groundless as a tapped phone conversation between Batiashvili and Kvitsiani, which was put forth by prosecutors as evidence, fails to prove Batiashvilis links to alleged plot.