Ex-Defence Minister’s claims on funding opposition have “signs of political corruption” - Vice Parliament Speaker
Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Parliament Speaker of Georgia, on Monday responded to the former Defence Minister’s interview. Photo: Archil Talakvadze’s Facebook
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Archil Talakvadze, the Vice Parliament Speaker of Georgia, on Monday said the latest claims of David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister of Georgia in the United National Movement Government, on his alleged funding of domestic opposition groups contained “signs of political corruption”.
The official’s comment came following Kezerashvili’s interview with his Formula TV channel on Sunday, in which he claimed he was funding “pro-Western groups” in the country that requested support from him.
In his response, Talakvadze said domestic opposition parties had made “no official declaration” of the supposed donations from Kezerashvili, which he said was a violation of the country’s legislation.
He also challenged Kezerashvili’s claims of having gained his wealth legally by pointing to the March ruling of Tbilisi Court of Appeals that found the former official guilty of embezzlement of state funds while serving as the Minister of Defence between 2006-2008.
“The ruling confirmed Kezerashvili had stolen budget money. In his interview, Kezerashvili once again blatantly deceived the Georgian public and told it he had got rich through transparent business, and that now has noble interests to finance the radical wing of the opposition”, Talakvadze said.
Nika Melia, the former Chair of the United National Movement party, in January openly accused Kezerashvili of “shadowy” interference in the party. He also claimed the latter and Vano Merabishvili, the former Interior Minister in the UNM Government, had backed Levan Khabeishvili, who defeated him in intra-party elections in January.
A number of criminal proceedings have been brought against Kezerashvili since the change of Government in Georgia in late 2012. In two of them, heard in Georgian courts, Kezerashvili was convicted in absentia.
The former Minister, who currently holds a 51 percent stake in the opposition-minded Formula TV channel, served as the head of Georgia’s Financial Police between 2004 and 2006, and then as the Defence Minister until 2008, before his switch to business activities.
Georgia’s former Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili on Wednesday claimed ensuring the release of the imprisoned former President Mikheil Saakashvili was one of the goals of the public protests held this week in Tbilisi over the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.
The State Audit Office of Georgia on Tuesday said it would investigate a claim by a member of the United National Movement opposition party who said the party’s incumbent Chair Nika Melia had received a car as a gift from David Kezerashvili, the wanted former UNM Defence Minister and current owner of a commercial TV channel.
Nika Melia, the Chair of the opposition United National Movement party, on Tuesday said “certain processes” taking place amid ongoing controversies in the party were “inspired, planned and organised from beginning to end” by Vano Merabishvili, the former UNM Government Interior Minister and David Kezerashvili, the former UNM Defence Minister and now private TV channel owner.
The Tbilisi Court of Appeals on Monday upheld the City Court verdict of embezzlement of state funds against David Kezerashvili, the former Defence Minister of Georgia in the United National Movement Government, and ordered him to pay a €5,060,000 compensation to the Ministry.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said protesters attacking law enforcement at rallies was “unacceptable” and a “red line on which we will be uncompromising”, amid the case of a citizen charged with violence during last month’s demonstrations in Tbilisi.
Khatia Dekanoidze, the former Chair of the United National Movement opposition party in the Parliament, on Monday said David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister in the UNM Government, had “confirmed” connections with domestic opposition groups and non-governmental organisations with his comments on the weekend.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday said the new investigation by the British public broadcaster BBC had raised suspicions that David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister of Georgia in the United National Movement Government, was a participant in the fraudulent scheme “robbing European pensioners”.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said “blurring lines of the political and the criminal” was never a good idea, only delaying justice, political compromise and “ultimately peace”.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Thursday told the country’s Parliament claims by a part of the domestic opposition on his office being involved in corruption and embezzlement could not be proven by those making the allegations “because there is no such thing”.
Mikheil Sarjveladze, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on Human Rights, on Saturday said the opposition United National Movement party was “facing a political end” amid inter-party problems.