Ex Defense Minister of Georgia remains in French jail
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French court has decided to keep Davit Kezerashvili, ex Defense Minister of Georgia, in jail.
Kezerashvili was detained in France, on 15 October. He is charged with illegal alienation of Imedi TV, and alcohol smuggling in Georgia. His trails are ongoing in the Tbilisi City Court.
The Georgian prosecutor has asked for Kezerahsvilis extradition to Georgia, but the French Prosecutor needs to go through different justice procedures.
Davit Kezerashvili was Georgia's Minister of Defense from 2006 to 2008. Before that, he used to work in the Justice Ministry. Kezerashvili then became an assistant to Mikheil Saakashvili. He also used to work in the Finance Ministry from 2004 until 2006, including a role as a chair of the financial police force.
He holds both Georgian and Israeli citizenship.
A secret letter to French authorities, written by the former ruling party asking for the release of Georgia’s ex-Defence Minister, has been exposed.
"Very serious and scandalous information is being spreading about Kezerashvili," says Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili urges the French courts to recognize the case against ex-Defence Minister Davit Kezerashvili as politically motivated.
The United National Movement has confirmed the letter to French authorities to release Georgia’s ex-Defence Minister is authentic.
Furthermore, a "preposterous accusation” of Kezerashvili being involved in arms trade is not the reason why he is detained in France, they said.