US-sanctioned ex-Prosecutor General “not connected” with body for 10 years - Prosecutor General

Irakli Shotadze, the Prosecutor General of Georgia, on Tuesday said Otar Partskhaladze, the former Prosecutor General of Georgia who was in September sanctioned by the United States for alleged links with the Russian intelligence, had had “no connection” with the state body over the past 10 years. 

In his press comments, the official said he was “unable to speak about the details” of the case as it was being investigated by the State Security Service under the article which involves providing assistance to foreign organisations or subordinate organisations in hostile activities, with the crime punishable by seven to 15 years in prison. 

However, Shotadze noted “all necessary investigative actions are being carried out in the criminal case”. 

Grigol Liluashvili, the head of the SSS, last week said Tbilisi had not received “any evidence” from the US State Department which could prove the guilt of Partskhaladze, and added the latter had left the country shortly after his summoning to the body for an interview last month. 

Liluashvili said Partskhaladze admitted during the interview he had obtained Russian citizenship, which caused the termination of his Georgian citizenship by the President last week. 

The SSS launched its investigation into Partskhaladze’s case on September 15, after the US State Department on September 14 said it had sanctioned the former official, who held the post between November-December 2013 under the Georgian Dream Government, for “influencing Georgian society and politics for the benefit of Russia”. 

The US state body said Aleksandr Onishchenko, an officer of Russia’s security agency FSB who has also been sanctioned along with the Georgian former official, had “likely assisted his associate Partskhaladze in obtaining a Russian passport and possibly Russian citizenship”, and added the former Georgian Prosecutor General had “fully taken on a Russian identity and routinely travels to Russia”