In a case that could threaten the functioning of a major critical media outlet in Georgia, the Tbilisi Court of Appeal has upheld the Tbilisi City Court's decision to fine Davit Kezerashvili, founder of Formula TV, 5.5 million euros.
The case against Mr Kezerashvili was reactivated after Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili made a public threat on 25 June last year that Mr Kezerashvili's case would be "taken care of", expressing disdain that he had been acquitted by lower courts.
"When I left, you acquitted him. Now it seems that this will be taken care of," he said.
According to Mr Kezerashvili's lawyers, the Court of Appeal's decision could lead to the freezing of Formula TV's assets, putting the channel in imminent danger of being paralyzed.
Mr Kezerashvili had been acquitted by both the Tbilisi City Court and the Court of Appeal. The original case, based only on testimony, alleged embezzlement of funds from military exercises involving Israeli specialists while Mr Kezerashvili was Minister of Defense. The case has essentially been forgotten.
Shalva Tadumadze, former chief prosecutor and former personal lawyer of Bidzina Ivanishvili and now a Supreme Court judge, delivered the verdict.
Curiously, Mr Tadumadze headed the prosecutor's office that brought the exact same charges that were rejected by both the Tbilisi City Court and the Appeal Court.
Following Mr Tadumadze's intervention, the Ministry of Defense filed a new lawsuit, which resulted in the imposition of a fine of 5.5 million euros, with the Court of Appeals soon to reconsider the case.
France and the UK had in 2014 and 2016 rejected the Georgian Government’s request for Mr. Kezerashvili’s extradition as politically-motivated.
Formula TV is the only asset of Mr Kezerashvili in Georgia.
დახურვა