Saakashvili's lawyer claims independent expert Aleksandre Gejadze is not impartial, refuses to include him in the case
By Liza Mchedlidze
Friday, December 23, 2022
Mikheil Saakashvili's lawyer Shalva Khachapuridze stated at the court session that the inclusion of expert Aleksandre Gejadze in the former president's case is out of the question.
According to the lawyer's explanation, Gejadze said in the conversation with him that in case of an examination, he will write in the report what "they will call from the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
The lawyer spoke about this at Saakashvili's trial and said that there are secret recordings of his and Gejadze's dialogue, where the expert also confirms that in the examination of the case of Lekso Lashkarava, operator of TV Pirveli, the same conclusion was drawn that the Ministry of Internal Affairs 'arranged'.
Aleksandre Gejadze, who was involved as an independent expert in the case of the death of the TV operator Lekso Lashkarava, agreed with the conclusion of the examination bureau that Lashkarava died of acute cardiovascular and respiratory failure caused by heroin intoxication and not by being beaten to death.
"As for Mr. Gejadze - I had a meeting with him several times, I wanted him to be involved in this case, although in the presence of several people he ordered that he would be happy to participate in the examination if they call him from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he will make the conclusion that they will tell him. That's why he told me "Shalva I'm very sorry, I respect you, we have been cooperating for years and I don't want to do what I did about the death of a TV Pirveli journalist, I made the conclusion that was arranged by the Ministry of Internal Affairs".
Therefore, Mr. Gejadze's participation in this examination is categorically excluded, I am sure Gejadze will confirm, if not, we have recordings. I recorded Gejadze when he was talking to me, and we will have to hear on television what Gejadze said regarding Saakashvili. Gejadze gave Saakashvili a code nickname 'bird'. He used to call me on the phone, asking me how is the case with the 'bird', I would be happy to take part in the case of the 'bird', they would pay me well, the only trouble is that the Ministry of Internal Affairs will call me and I will write down what they tell me, he would say," said Khachapuridze.
