Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

Deputy Minister of Justice Surprised by the Statement of the French Foreign Ministry

September 27, 2012

According to Civil Georgia 

On September 25, the French Foreign Ministry stated that “in a sensitive pre-election context, which has been further worsened after revelation of cases of torture in the Georgian penitentiary, use of any case pending investigation can affect proper conduct of elections.”

The French Foreign Ministry said it was “surprised” that the Georgian authorities made public  secret information, part of an ongoing investigation in France, about possible ties between a “Georgian opposition” figure and Georgian criminal groups operating in France. The statement was published by the French Foreign Ministry which was translated into Georgian and published on the official website of the French Embassy in Tbilisi.

“The French authorities have not authorized to disclose this information and even were not entitled to do so,” the statement reads.

“In a sensitive pre-election context, which has been further worsened after revelation of cases of torture in the Georgian penitentiary, use of any case pending investigation can affect proper conduct of elections,” French diplomatic mission states.

Besides that, France calls once again on the Georgian authorities to spare no efforts for holding elections peacefully.

Georgia’s chief prosecutor, Murtaz Zodelava, announced on September 25 that based on information, provided by the French National Gendarmerie, investigation was ongoing into the alleged links of ex-state minister Giorgi Khaindrava with French-based Georgian criminal authorities, or as they are called, “thieves-in-law”.

The Georgian chief prosecutor’s office said on September 25 that it had summoned Giorgi (Goga) Khaindrava, former state minster, for questioning into his suspected links with organized crime groups.

Khaindrava, being a member of no political party, confirmed his visit in France last year and his meeting with his old friend; but he said the accusations against him were ridiculous. Khaindrava added that he appeals to the French Embassy to clarify to him what those materials were about.

In reply to the statement of the French Foreign Ministry Georgian Deputy Justice Minister, Tina Burjaliani, said the Georgian authorities were “surprised” by the statement of the French Foreign Ministry.

“First of all, I want to once again thank the French National Gendarmerie and all the relevant French agencies, with which we have been actively cooperating recently, for providing the information, as well as for the cooperation,” she said.

“At the same time, we are surprised with the statement of the French Foreign Ministry. The French Foreign Ministry and generally the [French] diplomatic services were not involved at any stage of this cooperation between Georgian and French law enforcement agencies,” Burjaliani said.

“Cooperation and mutual assistance was carried out under the European Convention, which regulates mutual assistance in criminal cases. In particular, article 13 of this Convention directly envisages that the relevant agencies of the two countries have direct communication and direct cooperation,” she said.

She also said that “since the case concerns issues of national security importance” the Georgian law enforcement agencies “have not undertaken any commitment before the relevant French authorities at any stage of cooperation about confidentiality of the information.”

“I want to stress that neither the French National Gendarmerie nor the French judge, who sanctioned handing of this information over to the Georgian side, have ever demanded the Georgian side in any official communication to observe confidentiality. Therefore, the cooperation, which took place between the French National Gendarmerie and Georgian prosecutor’s office, is fully in compliance with the international standards regulating mutual assistance in legal issues between the two countries. I want to once again thank the French National Gendarmerie and all other [French] structures, which have actively cooperated with the Georgian law enforcement agencies,” Burjaliani said.
 
See full articles on Civil.ge

French MFA Says 'Surprised' by Georgia's Disclosure of Secret Information
Prosecutor's Office Probes Ex-State Minister's Alleged Links with Organized Crime

News