PM: part of Georgian opposition funded by money defrauded from European pensioners

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday responded to the BBC report on alleged links of wanted Georgian former defence minister David Kezerashvili with an international scheme defrauding European citizens, and said the part of the domestic opposition had been funded by this money. 

 

In his comments during the Cabinet meeting, Garibashvili told the country’s “European partners” that when they would  meet with the representatives of the “radical domestic opposition” – in reference to the United National Movement – they should know the party and its affiliates had been funded by Kezerashvili with the money earned through “robbing of the Georgian Armed Forces while in office [between 2006-2008] and then European pensioners”. 

 

He said the BBC investigation had referred to Kezerashvili as an international scammer and he was happy the truth had been revealed, commending the country’s law enforcement agencies for their efforts for two years to solve the case along with German investigative services. 
Kezerashvili has rejected the allegations last week and said he would sue the BBC for “fake allegations”. 

 

He also announced on Tuesday the handover of half of his 51 percent of shares in the opposition-minded Formula channel to the TV staff.