Greek Court refuses to extradite ex-Georgian high official

A Greek court of law is refusing to extradite a former Georgian high official to his homeland to face charges related to the 2006 murder of bank worker Sandro Girgvliani and abuse of a policeman in 2005.

Data Akhalaia’s sister-in-law Ani Nadareisvili said Greek authorities had rejected Georgia’s bid to extradite Akhalaia. This news has not been officially confirmed by Greek or Georgian authorities however official comments are expected to be released.

After the trial in Greece, Data Akhalaia gave the comment to the Georgian Public Broadcaster claimed that he was innocent and all cases against him was falsified.

"One more the European Court confirmed that political persecution occurs in Georgia. The result was adequate to my expectations. Throughout Europe and the entire world was surprised by what takes place in Georgia. Thanks to the Court, which upheld my position and not found me guilty in all cases which falsified against me in Georgia,” Akhalaia said to the Georgia’s Public Broadcaster. 

In April this year Akhalaia, who chaired the Interior Ministry’s Constitutional Security Department (CSD) in 2006 and again from 2008 to 2012, applied for political asylum in Greece, his lawyer claimed. However Georgia’s Foreign Ministry or Georgian Embassy to Greece said it did not have any official information about this fact.

Akhalaia, the brother of ex- Defence Minister Bacho Akhalaia who is currently in a Georgian prison, served at different times as Georgia’s prison, defense and interior minister during the Saakashvili regime.

He was detained in Greece in April 2014 as he tried to cross the border into Italy on a fake passport.

Greece’s Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Akhalaia was taken into custody for using forged documents. At the time of his arrest he allegedly had €20,000 and $10,000 USD on his possession (a total of about 62,000 GEL) and he was attempting to use a fake passport issued in the name of Otar Urushadze.

He was ordered to pay €100,000 (223,500 GEL) bail and he was later released when this was paid.

Akhalaia, known among Georgians as ‘Kudi’, was recently declared a wanted person by Interpol. He is suspected of being involved in the murder of bank employee Sandro Girgvliani in 2006. According to Interpol, the 32-year-old was wanted for "exceeding the official power under aggravating circumstances (committed repeatedly, by violence, insult or personal dignity)”.

Akhalaia has been wanted by Georgian authorities since December 2012. He quit his job as head of the CSD and left the country soon after the 2012 Parliamentary Election when UNM was defeated and a change of government ensured.

In 2014 Tbilisi City Court sentenced him in absentia to three years and nine months in jail for his involvement in the beating of policemen in 2005.

Akhalaia is being supported in Greece by his father Roland Akhalaia, minority Member of Parliament Akaki Minashvili and other family members.