“Saakashvili’s government, anti-Russian in its public statements but perhaps the most pro-Russian in its actions, handed over strategic energy facilities to the Russian side, to a Russian company, and also imposed, through its own decision, the payment of increased tariffs on its own population, something which Georgian Dream and its government refused to do,” stated Levan Zhorzholiani, Head of the Administration of the Government of Georgia.

As Levan Zhorzholiani noted, Saakashvili sold off all strategic energy facilities, including the transfer of hydroelectric power stations to InterRAO.

“Furthermore, a government decree was issued regarding them, in which the government promised the Russian side that it would compensate them for the sums they had paid through increased electricity charges and, naturally, this burden would fall upon the Georgian population; electricity charges would increase.

The Georgian Dream government refused this. Firstly, because the government has no competence whatsoever to set such a tariff, this is for GNERC to determine. GNERC set a fair tariff that did not align with the interests of the Russian side, leading the matter to arbitration. The proactive efforts of the Ministry of Justice resulted in a settlement agreement with InterRAO, ensuring that the enforcement of the decision will have minimal, arguably zero, impact on Georgia’s economy.

As regards political responsibility, it is unambiguous that the government which was anti-Russian in its public statements but perhaps the most pro-Russian in its actions handed over strategic energy facilities to the Russian side, to a Russian company and, through its own decision, imposed the payment of increased tariffs on its own population, something which Georgian Dream government refused to do,” Levan Zhorzholiani stated.