US ambassador “hopes” Georgian gov’t will investigate allegations against ex-defence minister “themselves” after BBC investigation

US ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Thursday expressed hope the Georgian government would investigate their allegations involving fraud against the wanted former defence minister David Kezerashvili, following the BBC’s investigative piece on Tuesday on alleged links of the former official with a fraudulent scheme. 

 

In her comments,  the diplomat said the BBC investigation was a “good example” of the importance of investigative journalism and called it an “important component”. 

 

On the question whether the US had plans to impose sanctions on Kezerashvili, who owns a control stake in the opposition-minded Formula channel, the diplomat said the sanctions had never been announced in  advance. 

 

Citing the Panama Papers, the 11.5 million documents leaked in 2016, the BBC said  Kezerashvili was reportedly a central figure of a scheme of fake call centre operators, defrauding individuals in Europe through offering various investment opportunities.