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Georgian analyst points out hypocrisy of government officials

Rezonansi has published an article by analyst Gia Khukhashvili questioning the behaviour of a previous government minister. In response to the allegation by MP Gia Tortladze that Bidzina Ivanishvili is a “Russian project”. The author of the article reminds the MP that Kakha Bendukidze who was made Minister of Economy by President Saakashvili has certain connections with Russia which have allegedly been highlighted by Tortladze. In particular millionaire Kakha Bendukidze, Russian citizen of Georgian origin, purchased in 2003 the controlling package of AtomStroyExport, the company constructing Russian designed nuclear power stations abroad. Khukhashvili asks Tortladze if he knows which organisations monitor such business in Russia. Bendukidze later sold his shares of AtomStroyExport to Gazprombank as well as his shares in machine building plants. While working in Georgia as a minister and later adviser to the President he directly lobbied the selling of Georgia’s main gas pipeline to Russian Gazprom. This project was fortunately cancelled through the timely interference of our American friends, writes Khukhashvili.

The analyst reminds us that Bendukidze was involved in a scandalous tender of selling Chiatura Manganese enterprise which discredited the deal. Khukhashvili asks several questions which should be of interest to the appropriate Georgian bodies. Why was Bendukidze controlling this sphere in Russia which was initially under the complete control of the Russian special services? How did Georgia’s Minister of Economy sell his assets in Russia at the same time as being Minister in Georgia? What was the amount of the deals? These and other questions have been put forward by the analyst which he says should be answered before similar accusations are levelled at others.



Roads of Ivanishvili and Burjanadze should cross

Nona Gaprindashvili, leader of the Public Assembly, said in her interview to Alia that Nino Burjanadze, leader of the Democratic Movement United Georgia, and Bidzina Ivanishvili should agree on negotiations and that their political roads should cross therefore as they have common interests. “In the public assembly we are sure that Burjanadze will never cooperate with the Government and Ivanishvili needs people like that. I do not care about the Republicans or Irakli Alasania’s team, my wish is to see Ivanishvili in authority. I think that the unification of the opposition is a very important step toward this,” Gaprindashvili said.