1. Davit Kezerashvili was born on 22 September 1978 and is a Jewish-Georgian investor, entrepreneur and former Minister of Defense of Georgia under Mikheil Saakashvili's presidency from November 2006 to December 2008.
13 Facts About Davit Kezerashvili
1. 2.
Davit Kezerashvili studied law and international relations at Tbilisi State University.
3.
In late 2001, Davit Kezerashvili became one of the founding members of the United National Movement party, and contested an election in 2002 under its banner.
4.
Davit Kezerashvili resigned as defense minister on 5 December 2008 during a major cabinet shuffle.
5.
Davit Kezerashvili's dismissal was expected in the aftermath of Georgia's defeat in the 2008 South Ossetia War.
6.
Davit Kezerashvili was succeeded by former ambassador to the United States, Vasil Sikharulidze.
7.
Davit Kezerashvili denied the allegations and was acquitted of embezzlement by the Tbilisi City Court and the Tbilisi Court of Appeals.
8.
In October 2013, Davit Kezerashvili was detained on an Interpol warrant in France, with the Georgian government seeking his extradition.
9.
The Aix-en-Provence City Court ruled against his extradition and Davit Kezerashvili was released in early 2014.
10.
Davit Kezerashvili argued that the charges were politically motivated against him.
11.
On 3 September 2019, Davit Kezerashvili bought control packet of shares of TVFormula, a pro-opposition Georgian TV channel.
12.
Davit Kezerashvili is considered to be a major financial donor to several Georgian opposition parties, including the United National Movement, Strategy Aghmashenebeli and Droa.
13.
Melia accused Davit Kezerashvili of attempting to gain "informal influence" over the party.