Parliament official: Georgian courts, international investigation in dispute with wanted former Defence Minister over extortion

Irakli Kadagishvili, the Chair of the Rules and Procedural Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, on Wednesday said the Georgian courts and an international investigation were in dispute with David Kezerashvili, the wanted former Defence Minister of Georgia in the United National Movement Government, over extortion of money.

Kadagishvili’s comments followed the Georgian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Tuesday reporting the United States had declined a visa to Kezerashvili under an article of the Immigration and Nationality Act that classifies “money laundering” as a reason for refusal of a visa.

The Georgian courts and an international investigation, in which Georgia is intensively involved, is investigating and accusing Kezerashvili of illegally extorting money and then laundering and using it”, Kadagishvili said.

“This issue is known as the ‘robbery of European pensioners’, [and] it has already caused a great international resonance”, he added in reference to an international call centre scam scheme a BBC report in 2023 said Kezerashvili’s name had been noted in relation of.

“I think that is why the United States made this decision. There is a reference to money laundering, which is considered one of the most serious offences and crimes in America”, the lawmaker said.

He added it would be “welcome if this is extended specifically to those European countries where Kezerashvili and persons related to him extorted money from the pensioners”.