A former Georgian official currently in hiding overseas may be questioned via Skype in the court hearing of suspended Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava.
Former Minister of Justice Zurab Adeishvili is wanted by Interpol and until recently, his whereabouts have been unknown. At an earlier court hearing Ugulava’s defense attorneys said Adeishvili had gained political refugee status in EU countries and was currently in Hungary.
Ugulava’s lawyer Gizo Uglava said Adeishvili would be questioned from Hungary. The lawyer said he had compiled a survey report with Adeishvili as a defense witness. He said Adeishvili would testify from Hungary but did not specify the form of interrogation when asked to clarify by the prosecution.
"The interrogation will be in the form prescribed by the law. Two forms are considered in this case – appear at the trial or by a technical mean of interrogation, which could be Skype or other means of electronic communication," Uglava said.
Georgia’s former Minister of Justice will be questioned a witness in the case of the suspended Mayor and other people, who together have been accused of embezzlement from the Tbilisi Development Fund.
Lawyer Uglava said: "Adeishvili was aware how the finances were managed in that fund” and accordingly, information provided by him would be important at the court hearing.