Court Says Ex-Gov’t Official Kirkitadze Not Guilty over Abuse of Power Case
By Tea Mariamidze
Wednesday, January 16
Davit Kirkitadze, former official under the previous United National Movement (UNM) government, was recognized by the court as not guilty regarding the abuse of power charges.
Judge Giorgi Darakhvelidze announced this decision on January 14.
Regarding the case, 10,000 GEL bail had been imposed on the ex-official, which also has been abolished after the court verdict.
Investigation Service raised criminal charges against the former Governor of Kvemo Kartli Davit Kirkitadze on February 23, 2015 regarding the abuse of power.
The investigation was claiming that in 2011-2012 Kirkitadze made Kvemo Kartli special equipment to carry out free-of-charge works during the construction of the vehicle market on Tbilisi-Rustavi highway, in order to benefit his brother Irakli Kirkitadze and former public servant Giorgi Udesiani, whose companies were in charge of the construction works.
After the verdict, Prosecutor Giorgi Mikeladze stated the decision of the judge was unexpected, adding they will appeal the decision.
“The court delivered a non-guilty verdict against Davit Kirkitadze. The prosecution had adduced such strong and obvious evidence against him that we were surprised by the judge’s decision. After we receive the verdict, the prosecution will appeal against it”, Mikeladze said.
Davit Kirkitadze remains in pre-trial detention as he is charged for other criminal case as well.
He was ordered to pre-trial detention by Gurjaani regional Court on December 20, 2018 for assaulting and abusing a police officer and damaging police property in village Velistsikhe of Gurjaani Municipality, when several hundred United Opposition activists attempted to unblock the police cordons cutting their way to the inauguration venue in Telavi, where new President Salome Zurabishvili was taking an oath on December 17.
