Former Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Koba Gabunia is stunned by the arrest, - his lawyer Gocha Kvirikashvili stated this after leaving the temporary detention isolator in Digomi.

"I will inform you of the position after the charges are presented. He himself doesn't know; he's stunned. He's in high spirits. We'll find out whether what he's accused of fell under his competence. We'll learn the basis for the arrest, whether they have evidence, after we review the case materials. The minister has deputies; he doesn't know if what he's accused of fell specifically under his competence. He was arrested in Kutaisi and has not been interrogated," Kvirikashvili stated.

To the question of whether Gabunia knows the arrested executives of "Lagi Capital" or was protecting them, the lawyer gives a negative response.

"No, it's a private company; the deputy minister had no obligation to monitor it. We'll see this in the case materials too. We'll see what materials they have; the abuse of official powers they're accusing him of was announced on TV. They need to show us specific evidence so we can be convinced whether he exceeded or deliberately failed to fulfill his official duties," Kvirikashvili stated.

To the question of whether the former deputy minister has warned his employees about the investigation, the lawyer responds that Gabunia "will review the charges, see what he's accused of, and decide accordingly."

As human rights defenders note, mobile phones were seized as a result of the search.

"Mobiles were seized; they'll see if there's anything significant. There's no information announced about money being seized... He was a civil servant; I know he doesn't have moral support, televisions create public opinion, but not everything is as it sounds," the lawyer stated.

To the question of whether any of the already arrested individuals has given testimony against Koba Gabunia, Kvirikashvili gives an affirmative response.

"You heard from the briefing that someone gave testimony, as if the first arrested person did something; we'll see if they have other evidence," the lawyer stated.

For reference, the Ministry of Finance and the State Security Service detained the former Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Koba Gabunia. He is accused of abusing official powers.