Ex-minister found guilty for illegal privatization of cultural heritage, land
Kakha Damenia has been charged with ‘neglect of official duties’ and was fined GEL 15,000 ($5,196). Photo: commersant.ge.
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Former Deputy Economy Minister under the United National Movement government Kakha Damenia has been found guilty for illegal privatization of a cultural heritage monument and 995 square meters of land belonging to Dadiani Garden and Palace located in Georgia’s western Zugdidi municipality.
Former Deputy Economy Minister Kakha Damenia, who was responsible for overseeing the privatization process of state property, failed to perform his official duties and illegally acquired the former open theater with 995 square meters of land”, the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s office has stated today.
Kakha Damenia has been charged with ‘neglect of official duties’ and was fined GEL 15,000 ($5,196).
The lawyer of Damenia, Ioseb Janashia told TV Imedi that illegal privatization of a cultural heritage monument and 995 square meters of land really happened, but Damenia did not commit the crime.
Tbilisi City Court is looking into another case involving Damenia.
The Prosecutor's Office has charged Damenia with misspending of Rustavi 2 TV funds and the court ruled GEL 50,000 ($17,320) bail as a pretrial measure on January 24, 2020.
Damenia is banned from leaving the country without the consent of law enforcement agencies.
Former Director General of Rustavi 2 Nika Gvaramia, who previously served as the country’s minister of justice, has been summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office to be charged with the misspending of the funds of the channel which was returned to its former owner in July.
Current Director General of one of Georgia’s largest TV channels, Rustavi 2 has offered to purchase the company's shares from its current owner Kibar Khalvashi.
Tbilisi City Court Judge Tamaz Urtmelidze delivered a verdict yesterday that temporarily deprived the Rustavi 2 current director Nika Gvaramia and financial director Kakha Damenia of their obligations.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court has accepted an appeal from Tbilisi-based privately owned broadcasting company Rustavi 2 and ordered a temporary suspension of a normal clause in the country’s Civil Code after a challenge against the clause by Rustavi 2 lawyers.