In April 2023, the BBC published and broadcast an online BBC News article titled “On the hunt for the business behind a billion-dollar scam”, a radio broadcast titled “The billion-dollar scam”, a programme titled “The Billion Dollar Scam”, and a related item on Newsnight.
Amongst other matters, these publications reported that David Kezerashvili, a former Defence Minister of Georgia in the United National Movement (“UNM”) government, was convicted in Georgia for embezzlement of state funds.
"The BBC wishes to reiterate that Mr Kezerashvili has always challenged his conviction in absentia in Georgia as being politically motivated. We are also happy to make clear that in 2016, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court rejected a request by the Georgian government that Mr Kezerashvili be extradited to Georgia, on the basis that the English court found that it was “[o]n balance... more likely than not that the desire to prosecute former UNM politicians is a purpose” behind the requests for Mr Kezerashvili’s extradition", - the statement reads.
