Ex-Kvemo Kartli governor facing charges for abuse of power

The former Governor of Kvemo Kartli region, David Kirkitadze, is facing charges in absentia relating to abuse of power, which resulted in the loss of almost 250,000 GEL state funds, claim the Finance Ministry of Georgia.

Today the Finance Ministry’s Investigations Department summoned Kirkitadze to be officially questioned regarding an incident that took place in 2011-2012, however the former official is in the United States and refused to return to Georgia.

The Chief Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia asked Kirkitadze to be held in pre-trial detention, however as he was not in Georgia, the Office was planning to name Kirkitadze on a wanted list.

Investigators alleged during the time Kirkitadze was the Governor of Kvemo Kartli region, specifically from 2011 to 2012, Kirkitadze used special equipment belonging to the Ministry to construct buildings for the benefit of two companies [Outhouse-Rustavi 2011 and Titani 2011], which were jointly owned by his brother Irakli Kirkitadze and former public servant Giorgi Udesiani.

Buildings for the two companies were built on the Tbilisi-Rustavi highway. As a result, 248,400 GEL was lost from the state budget.

Kirkitadze held the role of Governor of the Kvemo Kartli region from 2008 to 2013. Currently he is in the US where he claimed to be "studying”. He left the country on January 4 for six months for studying purposes.

This afternoon Kirkitadze responded to the allegation and said the criminal charges against him were "politically motivated”.

The Georgian side said since Kirkitadze refused to return to Georgia and face charges, he could be charged in absentia.

An investigation into Kirkitadze’s alleged crime is continuing under Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.