Address by JSC Tbilisi Tobacco Workers to NGOs and Business Ombudsman

Tbilisi Tobacco JSC is a Georgian enterprise that manufactures Georgian products of domestic raw materials. The enterprise and related units employ more than 700 persons. Regretfully, artificial problems have been created in relation to our company. Moreover, in the course of time the threat of job loss grows, and this is the result of an indifference of opinion towards national production that has continued for many years.

Our trade was developed in Georgia in ancient times. Naturally, we cannot compare our production to world brands today, but we always occupied a significant segment of the Georgian market. In 2013, the ratio of Georgian tobacco products on the market was 35% and this acted as a guarantee for our job welfare. However, criminal activity and the machinations of immoral foreign importers have narrowed this ratio to 6%. They used to apply restricted mechanisms and inadmissible methods, sell imported products at dumping prices and employ other illegal schemes. As a result, they have led our production to the brink of destruction and we are threatened with unemployment and life on the street.

We, the workers of this plant, have lived as a family for many generations and we do not plan to sacrifice the future of our children because of these scamming businessmen.

Impudent tatements made by Fady Asly, seller of low-quality chicken hams, who protects dishonest tobacco importers, members of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), were particularly confusing. Namely, he said that he would not let domestic businesses extort finances from foreign business. Who extorts money from whom? Who robs whom and who persecutes others?

Naturally, he knows everything very well, but Mr. Asly is trying to make loud statements to conceal criminal schemes applied against Georgian tobacco production.

It is not even ridiculous any more, when Fady Asly, barnstormer, classic face of dishonest newcomer businessman, dares to blackmail the government, insult our court system and issue an ultimatum to the country.

The position of politicians and non-governmental organizations bribed by them is not surprising anymore. We will expose all of them, who, supported by Fady Asly, attack domestic production, real economic growth and our job security.

We address the NGO sector and Business Ombudsman's Office – it is incomprehensible and unacceptable for us that society has turned a blind eye to these so-called businessmen and their supporters, who try to destroy Georgian production.

We hope the Ombudsman's Office and NGO sector will provide a real assessment of the existing situation, give valuable and healthy recommendations to persecutors of Georgian domestic production and express their own position.

We welcome all foreign investors who put money into Georgia, create new job places and promote the country, but those who fight against Georgian production and threaten to leave us unemployed and destine us for hunger should not be accepted in Georgia.

We do not ask for privileges or protection, we simply request equal conditions, justice, honest competition and the rule of law.

We cannot wait anymore. Starting today we will defend our jobs ourselves. We plan to arrange a strike committee to start active protest in compliance with legislation with the aim to protect our rights. We are sure Georgian society will share our position and contradict everybody who threatens Georgian production.

JSC Tbilisi Tobacco workers