Criminal Case Was Launched on Production-Use of Fraud ID Card in the Name of Akhmeta District Interim Governor

Mikheil Mamalashvili, Kakheti

Akhmeta municipal board did not approve Beka Baidauri to the position of district governor; he is a friend of Akhmeta district majoritarian MP Zurab Zviadauri and occupied position of interim district governor after parliamentary election of 2012. Chairman of Municipal Board Zakaria Kinkladze said they had learned that faked ID card was issued on Beka Baidauri and criminal case was launched on the fact; on that ground the board did not approve him to the position.

“On July 22, I learned that criminal case might be launched against Beka Baidauri. I was obliged to check this information. I sent official letter to the Tbilisi Main Department of MIA and on July 24, I received a reply which stated that a criminal case was launched against Beka Baidauri on fabrication of ID card. In accordance to the law I did not have right to appoint the accused person on the position and issued a decree to suspend the process of considering his candidature. Mr. Beka continues his activities as an interim governor but we will wait for the investigation results,” Zakaria Kinkladze said.

Information Center of Kakheti reported that investigation was launched by the third unit of the Tbilisi Main Department of MIA on issuing faked ID card on Beka Baidauri.

Beka Baidauri, 25, was appointed to the position of Akhmeta district interim governor on November 19, 2013. Soon after coming in office, he fired 42 employees from the district administration. On December 4, 2012 Beka Baidauri appointed his sister-in-law Magda Lagazuri to the position of his personnel assistant. Before that, on November 30, Berdia Zviadauri, cousin of the majoritarian MP Zurab Zviadauri, occupied position of interim deputy governor. On December 13, Merab Zviadauri, another cousin of the MP, occupied the position of the interim head of supervision service at the district administration; his brother – Imeda Zviadauri became interim head of Emergency Service in the district; Berdia Zviadauri’s wife – Lela Akhmeteli occupied the position of the assistant to the chairman of Akhmeta municipal board. After ICK published an article about aforementioned appointments, that caused serious resonance, Magda Lagazuri and Berdia Zviadauri resigned from the positions.

Human Rights Center contacted Baidauri to get his comment on the criminal case; although he confirmed that criminal case is really launched against him, he refused to make any comments before the investigation finishes.