Society

The old debts of the TV companies are quite big, and the issue of their existence may come. This is certainly not in the interest of our government - the Minister of Finance

“Therefore, in this case, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and the Revenue Service, I would like to address and to urge the TV companies to come up in the nearest period, in one or two weeks with the proposals on how they see the issue of restructing, arranging and scheduling the old debt”, - the Minister said.

"Some of the TV companies have quite big debts, namely, “Imedi”, “Rustavi 2” and “Maestro”, - Minister of Finance, Ivane Machavariani said.

According to the Minister, it is necessary for the TV companies not to accumulate the debts and to gradually pay the taxes accumulated over the years.

"Some of the TV companies have quite big debts; these are “Imedi”, “Rustavi 2” and “Maestro”. “Rustavi” has the debt of about 28 million, “Imedi” - 19 million and “Maestro” - 8 million,” Machavariani said.

As the Minister said, it is about the tax debt accumulated over the last few years.

“Generally, if we look at the history, unfortunately, this vicious practice used to exist in Georgia at different times. The TV companies accumulated the debts, and then there was writing off, something like an amnesty. This happened under different authorities. I think it is now time to fix this issue once and for all and I will tell you about our vision how to solve and to correct it”, - the Minister said.

Machavariani explains that the decision has its motive as well.

“The motive is that there are TV companies, much smaller, but they do not accumulate debts and they pay it in good faith. I think it's not fair at all and I think it's awkward as well. Here, for example, I see a representative of “TV Pirveli”. The above-mentioned television paid the taxes in good faith over these years; the same applies to “TV Kavkasia”. I think we are in the same legislative space, no one can say what those people who pay their taxes in good faith have committed. Consequently, the motivation is that this issue should be settled once and for all, corrected and everyone should start paying taxes”, - the Minister stated.

Machavariani explains that the old debts are quite big and it will be difficult for the TV companies to pay them right now; it may concern the issue of their existence.

“This is certainly not in the interest of our government or the society; therefore, in this case, on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and the Revenue Service, I would like to address and to urge the TV companies to come up in the nearest period, in one or two weeks with the proposals on how they see the issue of restructing, arranging and scheduling the old debt”, - the Minister noted.