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Twice Resigned Person from Position By the Court Was Restored to Job

February 25, 2014
 
Mikheil Mamalashvili, Kakheti

Court twice prohibited former director of the Kakheti regional development agency Valeri Gremelashvili to occupy leading position in the agency. The court found him guilty in the abuse of professional authority and waste of large amount of fund together with the former chairman of the agency Giorgi Sibashvili. Although the court has not yet finished interrogation of the witnesses, on January 23, 2014 Gremelashvili reoccupied the position of the deputy board chairman.

Bail was imposed on Gremelashvili and Sibashvili: 5 000 lari on Gremelashvili and 15 000 lari on Sibashvili. Gremelashvili partly admitted the charge whilst Giorgi Sibashvili categorically denies it. 

On January 15, 2013, based on the solicitation of the prosecutor Khvicha Begiashvili at Kakheti regional prosecutor’s office, court released judgment and resigned Valeri Gremelashvili from the position of the Director of the Kakheti regional development agency.

“Since Valerian Gremelashvili is charged for the professional crime, he might hinder investigation to estimate the truth that is enough ground to resign him from the position. If he keeps position, Gremelashvili might hinder the investigation and continue criminal activities,” the judgment of the judge Gogita Totosashvili at the Telavi District Court reads.

The document also reads that “judgment is obligatory for the leader of relevant agency, enterprise or organization. She/he is authorized to immediately execute the judgment as soon as it is delivered to the addressee and to notify the court about execution.”

Board member Tamila Napireli was appointed to the position of the agency director instead Gremelashvili.

Despite the aforementioned judgment, on February 15, 2013 Valeri Gremelashvili was elected to the higher position in the Kakheti regional development agency – he is now board chairman at the agency.

On February 21, 2013 Prosecutor Khvicha Begiashvili repeatedly appealed to the court and requested Gremelashvili’s resignation from the new position.

Court satisfied the solicitation of the prosecutor’s office. “Valerian Gremelashvili is accused of professional offence. Due to the character of the committed offence, he might hinder the investigation to estimate the truth, continue criminal activities that are enough ground to resign him from the position. Based on the aforementioned circumstances, Valerian Gremelashvili shall be resigned from the position of the board chairman of the Regional Development Agency,” the judgment of the Judge Ketino Luashvili reads, that should be immediately executed.

Valeri Gremelashvili resigned from the position and Zurab Kurashvili, former Telavi district governor, replaced him to the position. Gremelashvili became ordinary board member of the agency.

On January 23, 2014, board session of the Kakheti Regional Development Agency again elected Valeri Gremelashvili to the high position in the Agency – deputy chairman of the board. 

Board chairmen and several members were also changed. Gurjaani district governor Emzar Jikurashvili was elected to be board chairman of the agency; Akhmeta district governor and Beka Baidauri and Kvareli district former deputy governor Lasha Aladoshvili are no longer board members. Signagi district governor Ramaz Popiashvili and Lagodekhi district governor Valeri Alibegashvili replaced them. 

Valeri Gremelashvili said presumably he has right to occupy the position of the deputy chairman. “I am neither director nor board chairman at the agency. I am deputy chairman that is not decision-making position. Director and chairman sign documents. Previously I did not have right to occupy high position, but now I think it is all right,” Gremelashvili said.

According to the protocol of the January 23 session, Lagodekhi district governor Valeri Alibegashvili was chairing the session where board chairman and deputy chairman were elected. The protocol states that Alibegashvili nominated Emzar Jikurashvili and Valeri Gremelashvili for the positions. Now, Lagodekhi district governor and other board members claim they do not remember who nominated Gremelashvili for the position. Either, they did not have information that court had resigned Gremelashvili from the position twice.

In accordance to the Article 199 Part II of the Criminal Code of Georgia, restriction of some activities or profession might be imposed on the convicted together with the preventive measure. The judgment does not clarify whether the judge’s decision was temporary or not. Valeri Gremelashvili did not appeal the judgment on his resignation. 

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