Ivanishvili to Fill Fund Deficit

Georgian billionaire ex-PM Bidzina Ivanishvili has spoken out at last, offering his financial support to the Tbilisi flood relief funding.

According to the most recent official estimations the cost of the flood damage exceeds GEL 100 million.

Ivanishvili announced last night that the prime responsibility for fund raising lies with the government and donors but that he would be willing to assist in financing the repairworks and particularly the relocation of the zoo to Tbilisi Sea.

“I never liked zoo’s [current] location,” said Ivanishvili, who has his own private zoo with zebras, flamingoes and penguins. “If we keep them [animals] captive, we should treat them with dignity. I think our zoo was not on an exemplary level in this regard.”

“They [the authorities] are trying to find resources to cover the cost, but if they cannot, consider it filled – they have a guarantee from me that I will fund the deficit in whatever the authorities, businesses, and society fail to raise,” Ivanishvili said, adding that businesses and civilians have been “very active” in contributing to the cause.

Asked on his view of the government’s response to the disaster, Ivanishvili said he thought “…everything was done well. The authorities are doing their utmost and are well mobilized.”