President's Parliamentary Secretary Questioned by Prosecutor's Office

Dimitri Gabunia, the President's Parliamentary Secretary, is being questioned by the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia within the framework of the investigation launched into Recent Presidential Pardons.

Before entering the Prosecutor's Office, Gabunia told reporters that he would answer all the questions asked by investigators, adding that he also wonders why his name appeared in connection with the case.

“I will answer every question. I do not know anything about pardoning procedure,’’ he noted.

When asked whether the President Salome Zurabishvili should arrive at the Prosecutor’s Office for questioning, he answered: "If she is summoned, she will probably come."

On September 20, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia launched an investigation into pardoning murder convicts by the President of Georgia, based on the appeal of the European Georgia Party, saying the investigation has been launched into possible abuse of power in the process of pardoning.

In particular, Irma Nadirashvili, the member of European Georgia, said that when it comes to the pardoning of the certain individual by President, people address the President's Parliamentary Secretary to discuss the financial issues and the fee in exchange for which one can be pardoned.

The President pardoned 34 prisoners in connection with Virgin Mary Day including Aslan Bezhanidze, a person convicted for the 2004 murder of the teenager Davit Otkhmezuri and a convict charged for the 2014 murder of police officer Tarash Mukbanian. The above caused outrage in society and among the opposition parties. 

Related Story: Member of European Georgia Party Summoned for Questioning

By Ana Dumbadze