Kezerashvili’s audit document a “leak of information” – French counsels

French counsels are concerned a secret document revealing personal financial information about ex-Minister David Kezerashvili has been leaked to Georgian media.

Furthermore, a "preposterous accusation of Kezerashvili being involved in arms trade is not the reason why he is detained in France, they said.

Kezerashvilis French counsels said Kezerashvili was detained in France on the sole extradition request of the Georgian government and had nothing to do with a preposterous accusation of arms trade. Kezerashvili is wanted in Georgia on multiple criminal charges including corruption. He was detained in France on October 14 last year.

A statement by the French-based Metzner Associés Law Firm, counsels Aurelien Hamelle and Antonin Levy said: "There is absolutely no investigation into or prosecution against David Kezerashvili in France in relation to a preposterous accusation of arms trade. Such a piece is pure disinformation and can easily be checked with the French authorities themselves.

In the statement, the legal experts said they were concerned and astonished that a working document prepared at their request, where the final version was only disclosed to the French court, has been leaked in the Georgian media.

The document, prepared by international audit company Deloitte Limited, revealed the income and the extent of ex Minister of Defense David Kezerashvilis business. The scandalous information was published on January 15 in Georgian newspaper Alia and showed the former high official was the sole beneficial owner of the Future Product Company, registered in an offshore zone.

The turnover of the company in the year it established, 2009, was almost 9 million USD and increased to more than 795 million USD in 2012.

Hamelle and Levy said they were "appalled by the unprecedented level of political pressure applied by the Georgian government to obtain the extradition of David Kezerashvili from the French court and government.

On January 23, a French court is expected to discuss the extradition of Kezerashvili.

See details about Future Products Company in info-graphics below.