Saakashvili could be questioned via video-conference
Tweet 
Share
The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has proposed ex-President Mikheil Saakasvili can answer investigator’s questions via video chat so he does not have to return to Georgia.
The country’s former President was summoned to appear at the Chief Prosecutor’s Office today to be questioned on several high-profile cases but he did not show up.
The Office called a special press conference to announce details on the idea of questioning Saakashvili online.
"In this case there will be no need for [Saakashvili] to come to Georgia. This also rules out his concern of being detained here,” said a Prosecutor’s Office representative.
"This proposal has been sent to him in an official form and he has been given one week to explain his position on remote questioning,” the spokesperson said at the press conference.
The Office later explained that if Saakashvili responded positively to their proposal, he will be asked to go to a court in the country where he resides and be questioned from there. The court will confirm his identity and provide adequate conditions for the video conference.
The Prosecutor’s Office said this can be done any country Saakashvili chooses.
Saakashvili is reported to be the Ukrainian capital city Kiev as he has held meetings with politicians and spoken to the public.
"The Chief Prosecutor’s Office hopes the former president will also respect his status and act as a law-abiding citizen and will assist in resolving of crimes through his testimony. That will help to punish the criminals, whoever they might be,” underlined the Prosecutor’s spokesperson.
Saakashvili was summoned to be questioned as a witness in relation to ten cases by the Georgian Prosecution. Among them were several cases connected with Georgian TV companies, embezzlement of public money and cases relating to the murder of Girgvliani and the unexplained death of ex-Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania.
Saakashvili considered the questioning to be a part of political pressure put on himself and his party by ruling Georgian Dream coalition, and alleged Russian officials may also be interested in his questioning, arrest or even physical demise.
Several people were detained by Georgian law enforcers after a clash outside the Chief Prosecutor’s Office where former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was expected to be questioned today.
The head of the EP delegation Milan Cabrnoch revealed he did not believe the summoning of ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili by Georgian authorities for questioning in multiple criminal investigations, would have any effect on Georgia’s European future.
Georgian Prime Minister is ready to answer all questions concerning ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili and his summons by the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia to be questioned in relation to a number of high-profile cases.
The US Government has voiced concern over Georgian authorities' decision to call former President Mikheil Saakashvili for questioning in multiple criminal investigations.
Ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili believes it is Russia's President who is interested in questioning him. He has been summoned to be questioned as a witness in about ten cases by the Georgian Prosecutor's Office.
Garibashvili, who is visiting The Hague to participate in the international Nuclear Security Summit, noted that no one approached him to speak about the Saakashvili's summoning during his meetings with Western leaders in The Hague.
The ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is refusing to be questioned via video-conference after he failed to appear for a court summons.
Georgia’s ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili’s refusal to be questioned via video conference has been assessed as "wrong” and "incomprehensible” by the country’s Cabinet members.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili is calling on former president Mikheil Saakashvili to abide by the country’s rule of law and respond to his summons to be questioning as a witness by authorities investigating corruption and instances of abuse of power during his tenure.
Former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has been summoned for questioning by the country’s authorities although the reason for his summons is unclear. He is due to appear for questioning on July 28 at 11am.