Nationwide search pointless as Saakashvili hides abroad - lawyer
TBILISI. Aug 15 (Interfax) - The defense lawyer for Georgian ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili has said that declaring a nationwide search for him was pointless as his client is abroad.
"What is the point in declaring a nationwide search for a man who is outside the country, who is abroad. Everyone knows about it,", - Otar Kakhidze told reporters on Friday after prosecutors announced yesterday the launch of a nationwide search for Saakashvili.
"This will have no legal result," he said. "Apparently, they (the prosecutors) have no hope that the U.S. court, after considering these cases, will decide to extradite my client," Kakhidze said.
He cited as an example the case of the international fugitive, Georgia's ex-president David Kezerashvili, whose extradition to Georgia was denied by a court in the French city of Aix-en-Province.
"They have experience from the Kezerashvili case," the lawyer said.
With regard to the charges against Saakashvili, his lawyer said that releasing information on previously classified papers containing the former president's spending at the expense of the special state security agency accountable to him was unacceptable.
"Such information must not be spread about anyone, let alone the former head of state. This hurts the country's image and brings shame on the prosecution," Kakhidze said.
Last Thursday the Georgian Prosecutor General's Office declared a nationwide search for the country's ex-president Saakashvili, who is accused of misusing public funds. Prosecutors claim that he spent over 8.8 million laris (around $5.1 million) from the State Security funds for his personal needs and his family, including hotel and massage bookings, yacht rental, purchase of expensive souvenirs and so on.
Previously Saakashvili faced charges in three criminal cases, which led to a court ordering his arrest in absentia.
