Former sports minister Levan Kipiani said during his testimony in the Prosecutor’s Office that the meeting between Zaza Okuashvili, founder of the “Omega Group” and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili was held upon the request of Zaza Okuashvili.

“It was the meeting between two representatives of the business. The conversation touched upon the Georgian production and the problems facing the Georgian tobacco. Due to the fact that Mr. Bidzina’s attitude towards the development of the country and the Georgian production in the country is well known, Zaza Okuashvili visited Mr. Bidzina to introduce him his vision on the development of the Georgian tobacco.

In particular, his opinion regarding the development of the Georgian tobacco in different regions of Georgia and revival of this sector, which required a huge investment and Mr. Bidzina promised to help. He asked Zaza Okuashvili to present his own plan and the vision on the development of the Georgian tobacco, which would create additional jobs and Mr. Bidzina expressed his willingness to help Zaza Okuashvili.

There was the discussion on the above-mentioned issue and the development of the common business and Mr. Bidzina, in fact, expressed his willingness to help in this business. Obviously, I had a personal interest, because in case this business was developed I would become the shareholders in the business. So, I have several times met with Mr. Bidzina related to the development of this project,” Kipiani said in his testimony.