Ex-President’s lawyer demands investigation on case of audio recording
By Khatia Kardava
Tuesday, August 22
On Monday at a press conference, lawyer of Georgia’s third President, Mikheil Saakashvili, requested the initiation of investigation of a scandalous audio recording published on the Ukrainian website last week.
Saakashvili’s lawyer Beka Basilaia applied to the investigative agency with the demand already a week ago, however, he says the agency has not made a decision yet. The lawyer demands launching of the investigation based on allegations of persecution/chase, exceeding official powers and stalking.
Basilaia declared the case has already been filed for foreign expertise to determine the authenticity of participants in the audio recording. As he stated, he did not understand why the Public Defender and non-governmental organizations are not active about the issue.
"The silence of the Public Defender is unclear and the activity of NGOs is not sufficient, considering the fact that this statement of the Minister of Internal Affairs clearly shows that the human rights in Georgia are in a grave situation. In fact, there is a violation of Article 18 of the European Convention," Basilaia said.
Earlier this month Strana.ua has released an audio recorded by Russian pranksters Vovan and Lexus who allegedly spoke with the Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Mghebrishvili, over the extradition of Georgia’s ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili. The Ministry of internal affairs denied the authenticity of the recording stating that such conversations do not take place in an unprotected line. However, the opposition demands further investigation of the case.
Responding to the allegations last week Minister Mghebrishvili called the case the “black PR” against the Georgian government and stressed he would not find it disturbing if the issue is examined.
Until today, it remains unknown, if the Prosecutor's Office will launch an investigation.
