Shevardnadze’s Daughter Says her Husband is “Innocent”

Manana Shevardnadze, daughter of ex-President Eduard Shevardnadze and wife of MagtiCom chief Gia Jokhtaberidze, did not rule out today, that her family may ask for a political asylum, as her family “is under political pressure.”

“This is my native country and I really do not want to leave it, but they [the current authorities] may force us to do so,” Manana Shevardnadze said at a special news briefing, which was held on February 20 after detention of her husband this morning.

Co-founder of MagtiCom communications company Gia Jokhtaberidze was arrested aboard of scheduled Tbilisi-Paris flight in Tbilisi airport.

Georgian General Prosecutor Irakli Okruashvili said on February 20, that Gia Jokhtaberidze, who was interrogated for several times regarding the activity of his company, was warned not to leave Georgia, as investigation was underway.

However, Manana Shevardnadze dismissed all the accusations against Gia Jokhtaberidze as groundless, saying the company has no problems and its activities are “legal and transparent.” 

She rejected the statements of the Prosecutor General, saying that nobody has warned her husband not to leave the country.

The General Prosecutor’s Office reports that the company has “definite problems with the state budget.” The General Prosecutor’s Office should bring charges against Jokhtaberidze within 48 hours.

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