Opposition MP: former Defence Minister Kezerashvili “robbed Georgian army, European pensioners”
Elisashvili’s comment came following the BBC’s investigation into a fraudulent “call centre” scheme involving Kezerashvili, in a report that on Wednesday detailed a global network of a scam operation targeting customers. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
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Aleko Elisashvili, the leader of the Citizens opposition party, on Wednesday said David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister of Georgia in the United National Movement Government, had “robbed the Georgian army” before moving on to “robbing European pensioners”.
Elisashvili’s comment came following the BBC’s investigation into a fraudulent “call centre” scheme involving Kezerashvili, in a report that on Wednesday detailed a global network of a scam operation targeting customers.
“Kezerashvili - a rare thug - robbed the army in Georgia, then went to Europe and started robbing European pensioners”, the MP said in response to the revelations.
The BBC is not a prosecutor's office, but its investigation is reputationally damaging. Of course, this investigation will be the basis of a [legal] investigation against Kezerashvili in European countries. People like Kezerashvili should be in jail”, Elisashvili added.
The opposition MP also stressed the domestic opposition was in a “shameful situation” through its funding by the former Minister, in reference to recent comments by the latter that confirmed his financial support for political forces in the country.
In its investigation, the British broadcaster said the Panama Papers, the 11.5 million documents leaked in 2016 to show financial dealings of wealthy individuals and officials across the world, had shown Kezerashvili to be at the centre of the fraudulent scheme that offered European citizens investment opportunities while defrauding them.
The uncovering of the scheme follows the BBC’s accompanying of Georgian and German law enforcement in their raids on offices of the fraudulent operation in Tbilisi in November, which came after Georgian police made arrests in October and Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said in April 46 call centre operations were under investigation across the country.
Kezerashvili is wanted in Georgia for embezzlement of state funds during his time in office between 2006-2008, with the Tbilisi Court of Appeals last month upholding the City Court verdict on the case and ordering him to pay €5,060,000 in compensation to the Ministry of Defence.