“Free movement” of Georgia’s wanted ex-Defence Minister in Europe “raises questions” - Justice Minister

Georgia’s Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Wednesday said the “free movement” of David Kezerashvili, the country’s wanted former Defence Minister, throughout European states “raises questions” and said he was confident a potential cooperation with foreign partners could “provide clarity” on the matter. 

It is evident from Kezerashvili’s own statements that he is attempting to finance the [domestic] opposition in various ways, and he has not denied this. It is regrettable that a person who faces multiple question marks and who, as Mr. Papuashvili [Georgia’s Parliament Speaker] pointed out, contributes to the rise of radicalism in Georgia, is able to move freely. I am certain that through collaboration with our foreign partners, these concerns will be addressed properly”, Bregadze told the press. 

Papuashvili on Monday said a handover of Kezerashvili by the European Union to Tbilisi would “dispel suspicions” the former official enjoyed “certain guarantees of freedom in exchange” for funding domestic “radical groups”. 

The official’s social media post came in response to the latest comments by Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, which last week said over one million dollars had been transferred to bank accounts of Kezerashvili and his immediate relatives by a suspect involved in a fraudulent “call centre” operation. 

The scheme defrauded German, Slovenian and Slovak nationals of €3.17 million between 2019 and 2021, the Office said. 

Kezerashvili is wanted in Georgia for embezzlement of state funds during his time as the Defence Minister in the United National Movement Government between 2006-2008, with the Tbilisi Court of Appeals last year upholding the City Court verdict on the case and ordering him to pay €5,060,000 in compensation to the Ministry.

The same year, the British Broadcasting Corporation report said 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 a scheme in which fake call centre operators pretending to represent legitimate agencies offered investment opportunities to their targets in Europe while defrauding them of funds.