TBILISI, February 27 (RAPSI) – The Court of Appeals in Aix-en-Provence in southern France has ruled against the extradition of ex-Defense Minister David Kezerashvili to Georgia. According to Rustavi2 TV, the French court said it feared that Kezerashvili would be subject to political pressure and other politically motivated actions.

Kezerashvili was Georgia’s Defense Minister during the five-day war with Russia over South Ossetia in August 2008. He was detained on October 14, 2013 at Nice airport while trying to fly to Albania.

Georgia’s investigating authorities have charged the former minister in absentia for taking large bribes, facilitating ethanol smuggling, money laundering and for the embezzlement of large funds.

On February 25, the Tbilisi City Court issued an order to detain Kezerashvili for allegedly forcing Joseph Kay to give up his stake in the TV company Imedi. Kay was the controlling shareholder in 2008.

Kezerashvili has also been charged with patronizing a criminal group that smuggled ethanol from Ukraine to Georgia in 2007. The investigators claim that he was also paid to help various government agencies avoid taxes and official inspections. He is believed to have continued his illegal activity after he resigned as defense minister and until 2012.  His illegal income is estimated at over $12 million and damages to the state at $50 million.