Interior Minister Denies Sending letter to TBC Founder
Georgia’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Giorgi Gakharia rejects allegations of the co-founder of TBC bank, Mamuka Khazaradze, that he sent him him a threatening letter.
Khazaradze raised the issue of the letter while answering questions of the MPs at Parliament on March 4.
He said ahead of the second round of the presidential elections in 2018 that he received a letter posing certain conditions and containing threats, that should he fail to meet these conditions, his domestic and international reputation would be ruined. He underlined that the letter was sent from Gakharia.
However, the Interior Minister claims it is just “the attempt of one privileged businessman to obtain immunity from the parliamentary tribune through gossiping.”
“Everything he said is a lie. I do not write letters, I speak directly to everyone, including to those people with whom I have a business relationship,” said Gakharia.
The Prosecutor’s Office reports that Khazaradze will be questioned in Tbilisi City Court today regarding the letter which he talked about in Parliament on March 4.
On February 14, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) stated that after examining transactions conducted by TBC Bank 2007-2008, it was revealed that Chairman of the Supervisory Board of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze and his Deputy Japaridze had violated the requirements of the legislation regulating conflict of interests, therefore it suspended the authority of the two men.
Khazaradze filed a lawsuit against the regulator, but the supervisory board decided to withdraw it. It was followed by Khazaradze’s resignation as the board chair.
He announced he was leaving TBC, where he had spent 27 years. His deputy also decided to quit. However, Khazaradze and his deputy will keep positions at TBC Bank Group PLC, registered in London, UK, which keeps 100% shares of TBC Bank.
By Thea Morrison
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