Conviction in Georgia

After the change of power in Georgia in 2012, the new government opened an investigation against Kezerashvili. He was alleged to have embezzled €5 million ($5.2 million) during his tenure as defense minister under the auspices of a combat training project.^[2] Kezerashvili denied the allegations and was acquitted of embezzlement by the Tbilisi City Court and the Tbilisi Court of Appeals.^[9][10]

The Georgian government has made repeated failed attempts to extradite Kezerashvili to Georgia.^[1][9] In October 2013, Kezerashvili was detained on an Interpol warrant in France, with the Georgian government seeking his extradition.^[11] The Aix-en-Provence City Court ruled against his extradition and Kezerashvili was released in early 2014.^[9] INTERPOL declared a search for Kezerashvili by red notice in 2014. However, INTERPOL revoked its red notice the next year.^[12]

In 2016, the United Kingdom also refused to extradite Kezerashvili to Georgia.^[12] At the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, the Senior District Judge Howard Riddle heard that Interpol had stated “it would refuse to provide police cooperation to Georgia” because “such cooperation would not conform with article 3 of its constitution” and that “there are concerns over the political motivation or prosecutions, and an alleged lack of due process in the context of pre-trial detention.”^[12] In dismissing the extradition request, the judge stated that witnesses on Kezerashvili's behalf were “persuasive and moving” and that the “defense has provided live and credible evidence that casts considerable doubt over the basis of the case against Mr Kezerashvili.”^[12]

In September 2021, the Supreme Court of Georgia overturned both acquittals against and sentenced him to 10 years in prison in absentia. Due to the amnesty, he would serve only five years in prison.^[2] Kezerashvili argued that the charges were politically motivated against him.^[1]

It has been reported that the State Prosecutor's Office of Israel for Tax and Financial Crimes may also charge Kezerashvili for corruption.^[13]

BBC investigation

In April 2023, the BBC published an investigation where it alleged that Kezerashvili appeared to be associated with a network of fraudulent and unregulated investment brands, including EverFX.^[3][14] The BBC alleged that he appeared in the Panama Papers to be either the founder or one of the initial shareholders of the companies in the predating linked network, was identified as senior person in the scheme by former employees of the firms, frequently promoted the scam trading platforms on his personal social media accounts, owned office buildings in Kyiv housing the fraud call center and used private email server used exclusively by Milton Group companies and those owned by Kezerashvili.^[3] The BBC said that there were no publicly available documents linking Kezerashvili to the network and that there was "no evidence that he had any direct financial interest in the Milton brands".^[3] Kezerashvili denied the allegations.^[3]

Georgian politics and media

On 3 September 2019, Kezerashvili bought control packet of shares of TV Formula, a pro-opposition Georgian TV channel.^[1]

Kezerashvili is considered to be a major financial donor to several Georgian opposition parties, including the United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli and Droa.^[15] He has also financially supported Girchi TV, operated by the opposition Girchi — More Freedom party. It was reported that he was linked to attempts to remove Nikanor Melia as Chair of the UNM. Melia accused Kezerashvili of attempting to gain "informal influence" over the party.^[16]