Zurab Adeishvili’s Brother Internationally Wanted

Information Center of Kakheti

Brother of former minister of justice of Georgia Zurab Adeishvili was declared internationally wanted. Kakheti regional prosecutor’s office accuses Davit Adeishvili of abuse of authority. Prosecutor Khvicha Begiashvili told ICK that in 2005, when occupying the position of Kakheti region deputy governor, Davit Adeishvili had compelled owners of Telavi agricultural market to give up their assets in the market in favor of Jabrail Khangoshvili.

Preventive measure - imprisonment was imposed on Davit Adeishvili in absentia. According to official information, he is hiding from law enforcement forces. His lawyer Gocha Tediashvili said Adeishvili would return to Georgia when criminal prosecution is dropped against him or less grave preventive measure is used against him.

“Davit Adeishvili does not plead guilty and requests to drop criminal prosecution against him. When imposing imprisonment on him, the prosecutor’s office verified this decision by allegation that the accused could influence witnesses and victims or hamper evidence-collection process. The prosecutor’s office has not obtained any evidence to prove that Adeishvili has committed any new offense meanwhile. Our evidence proves that he has not committed the alleged crime. So, we request to stop criminal prosecution and to cancel preventive measure against him. We request to stop prosecution and not to drop launched criminal case against him,” said Gocha Tediashvili at the trial.

Prosecutor Khvicha Begiashvili of Kakheti Regional Prosecutor’s Office declined the solicitation. “The list of evidence provided by us proves that Davit Adeishvili committed crime. There is no ground to drop criminal prosecution against him. The defense side has not presented any new circumstance that could become ground to change the preventive measure. The lawyer’s solicitation is groundless,” the prosecutor said.

The defense lawyer requested the judge to consider the circumstance that his client had not left Georgia to hide from investigation; he is taking medical treatment abroad. “We are all people and if imprisonment is changed into less grave punishment, he would return to Georgia immediately. I urge you to mitigate his punishment and it will encourage him to return to Georgia in order to finally resolve this case,” the lawyer appealed to the judge.

Judge Mamuka Tsiklauri did not satisfy defense side’s solicitation and stated that according to the evidence presented in the case materials is enough to find Davit Adeishvili guilty.

“The evidence from the case materials give ground to our assumption that accused person would be found guilty in the alleged crime. Even though there is meager possibility to influence witnesses, it is not enough ground to drop criminal prosecution or change preventive measure against him; moreover, the accused hides from judiciary. Thus, I refuse to satisfy the solicitation of the defense side,” Judge Mamuka Tsiklauri said.

The judge scheduled essential hearing of the case at 13:00 pm on March 14.

Davit Adeishvili’s brother Zurab Adeishvili is also hiding from investigation; he is accused of abuse of authority. According to the prosecutor’s office, Zurab Adeishvili had organized degrading and inhuman treatment facts of prisoners. He is also accused of falsification of evidence in criminal case and provoking of different crimes.