Davit Kezerashvili Responds to Russia's Arrest in Absentia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, November 18, 2024
Former Georgian Minister of Defense and founder of Formula TV, Davit Kezerashvili, has responded to the news of his conviction in absentia by Russia. Kezerashvili was sentenced to prison by a Moscow court, which accused him of large-scale fraud. According to Russian state media, an international arrest warrant has been issued for Kezerashvili, who was not present during the trial.
Kezerashvili dismissed the charges, stating that they were politically motivated and part of an ongoing effort to discredit him. "I don't know the details of the so-called case, and it doesn't matter much to me what they have made up this time to persecute and discredit me," he said in a statement. "I understand very well that I am an enemy of the Russian criminal authorities and their proxies and will remain so in the future."
Kezerashvili noted that the timing of the conviction is suspicious because it coincides with the announcement from the ruling Georgian Dream party of an investigation into the 2008 war between Georgia and Russia. He called it a clear attempt to undermine his credibility. "This latest action on the part of Russia suspiciously coincides with the well-known announcement by Georgian Dream of the beginning of the investigation of the 2008 war," he remarked.
Kezerashvili stated that the Georgian government has launched numerous legal cases against him and claims that they have been conducting smear campaigns to tarnish his reputation. "The Russian government of Georgia has been trying to discredit and neutralize me for 12 years," he said. "A number of cases were initiated in Georgia. Black campaigns were carried out inside and outside the country. Now, it seems, 'big brother' was also called to help."
Despite the charges and the mounting pressure, Kezerashvili remains defiant. "I can tell you with certainty that all these efforts are in vain. The free world will definitely win," he wrote.
According to TASS, the Russian state news agency, Kezerashvili's conviction stems from charges of fraud on a particularly large scale. However, Kezerashvili remains confident that the charges are baseless and part of a larger political strategy to target him.
