MP Gorduladze: Whatever happens, Georgian government will guarantee that citizens face no social problems

“Whatever happens, the Georgian government is the guarantor that citizens will face no social problems,” the Chairman of Parliament’s Legal Issues Committee, MP Archil Gorduladze, has said.

Gorduladze was commenting on the EU’s 21st package of sanctions against Russia, which blacklisted Inter RAO, the indirect owner of several major Georgian energy assets.

“In 2007, the United National Movement sold off strategic assets: Khrami HPP 1 and Khrami HPP 2. After the August War, they sold strategic assets to Russia. They even intended to sell Georgian Railway, the backbone of the country. At the time, Kakha Bendukidze used to say that everything could be sold except one’s conscience. As it turns out, the United National Movement collectively sold its conscience too, since they are now trying to use their own actions to smear Georgian Dream. They ask why, over the course of 14 years, we failed to terminate an agreement that they themselves signed. These people have completely lost touch with reality.

Whatever happens, the Georgian government is the guarantor that citizens will face no social problems. In many cases, agreements are such that breaching them would harm Georgia’s interests. That is why the state has to strike a balance between state interests and its contractual obligations. It is important that state assets be returned to the state, but this must be done in a way that does not harm the interests of any individual,” Gorduladze stated.

The European Union imposed sanctions on the company Inter RAO UES as part of its 21st sanctions package against Russia. Inter RAO UES is the indirect owner of a 100% stake in Silk Road Holdings B.V., a company registered in the Netherlands. Silk Road Holdings, in turn, directly owns 75.108% of Telasi and 75.471% of Telmiko’s shares. In addition, Inter RAO UES holds a 100% indirect stake in Gardabani Holdings B.V., also registered in the Netherlands. Gardabani Holdings, in turn, directly owns Khrami HPP I and Khrami HPP II in full. Telasi and Khrami HPP 1/2 were acquired by Inter RAO UES under previous governments in 2003 and 2011, respectively.