Society

Presidential candidates and political parties demonstrate their support to Iberia TV Company and Omega Group

Opposition parties have released a joint statement of support to Iberia TV Company and Omega Group with regards to the latest developments around both companies and alleged pressure.

“The processes that have been developing around Iberia TV Company and Omega Group recently are totally unacceptable. We are objecting to the participation of senior authorities in racketeering and extortion, which aims at pressure on Omega Group and independent TV Company Iberia. This is an attack on Georgia’s one of the most successful businesses, which has contributed 1,5 billion GEO to the state budget and on free media, jobs and the incomes of those 1500 citizens, who are employed at Omega and Iberia.

The negligence of investigation agencies and the statements made by governmental officials, who try to avoid responsibility by casting doubt on the authenticity of secret audio records, are especially shameful. Such position of the ruling party proves that the government is interested in delaying the process until the issue is no longer topical in the society.

The opposition candidates of president of Georgia and political parties demonstrate our support to Iberia and Omega Group.

We call for timely investigation of the case and prosecution of each person accused of corruption and racket.

We should hereby stress that the government has been refusing to issue excise marks to Omega for the past 8 months, which has halted the work of the factory. As a result, the government itself refuses to accept 6 million GEL, which Omega would have paid to the state budget in normal course of incomes. We support the attempts of the Ombudsman to make the government change its position. We call on the government of Georgia to start issuing excise marks to Omega Group and cancel the actions that will endanger the existing jobs,” – says the statement of the opposition candidates signed by:

Akaki Assatiani of the Traditionalists Union
Gia Berdzenidze, Political Union of Law enforcer Veterans and Patriots
Grigol Vashadze – United National Movement
Davit Bakradze – European Georgia
Davit Usupashvili – Movement Sheneba
Kakha Kukava – Free Georgia
Shalva Natelashvili – Labor Party
Opposition Political Parties:
New Georgia – Giorgi Vashadze
European Democrats – Paata davitaia
National Democratic Party – Bachuki Kardava
Freedom – Konstantine Gamsakhurdia
Republican Party – Tamar Kordzaia
Civil Alliance for Freedom – Zurab Kharatishvili
State for People – Nika Matchutadze
Christian Democratic Movement – Grigol Jojua