Wanted ex-defence minister announces handover of TV channel shares to personnel

David Kezerashvili, the wanted former defence minister of Georgia, who was last week linked with an alleged scheme defrauding European pensioners by BBC, on Tuesday announced the handover of half of his 51 percent share in the domestic Formula channel to the personnel. 

 

Kezerashvili claimed to fully concede the shares after the “end of the oligarchic rule” in the country, in reference to the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili, described as a “shadow ruler” of the country by the opposition. 

 

In his previous comments Kezerashvili, who was last month convicted in Georgia for embezzlement of the defence ministry funds while in office between 2006-2008, rejected the BBC claims and announced a legal dispute to “restore his reputation”. 

 

The former official says he is funding “pro-western” opposition and NGOs in the country.