“If anyone has illusions that I am leaving and won’t come back, I will tell them that I cannot grant such a pleasure to Ivanishvili, Kbilashvili, Tsulukiani and the others,” says Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava. (Interpressnews.)
TBILISI, DFWatch — Tbilisi mayor and staunch Saakshvili ally Gigi Ugulava failed to show up for questioning at the Finance Ministry’s Investigative Service today.
He was called to explain himself regarding a case of suspected embezzlement of five million lari of state money.
Ugulava was asked to appear at 13:00 on Saturday, but didn’t come. Representatives of the investigative service called him in by handing him a formal written request Friday evening delivered directly on his door at home, because business hours were over at the mayor’s office.
In an interview with Rustavi 2 Friday evening, Ugulava said it is unclear to him why the document was delivered so late.
He said he already has plans for Saturday and he cannot change his schedule to come for questioning, but he will wait for an investigator at 16:00 at his office and answer all his questions.
“If this time doesn’t suit investigators, Sunday I leave for a conference together with the president and when I return we will agree on the form of our next contact. If anyone has illusions that I am leaving and won’t come back, I will tell them that I cannot grant such a pleasure to Ivanishvili, Kbilashvili, Tsulukiani and the others,” Mayor said.
The city mayor is an elected official and protected by immunity, so investigators cannot force him to appear.
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