Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Governor's Administration Statement

We are responding to the broadcasted material by Rustavi 2 TV channel "Saturday Courier", which served to insult the business image of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Governor.

The TV Company broadcasted false information about the Governor's alleged smuggling. The TV Company did not have any facts or evidences, and allegations only belonged to the members of the National Movement, whose political interests are fighting against the unacceptable Governor. While the media could verify the truth, check the facts with sources, during the whole report they were trying to extend the interest of only one party instead, and the information received from the local leaders of the National Movement was proved to be certified.

With all responsibility we declare that the Governor has nothing to do with such illegal acts, but for decades, he has been fighting against them.

The state is fighting against smuggling effectively. As a result of the fruitful work of the relevant departments, the smuggled goods had been removed for many times. The information disseminated by the TV Company is also incorrect, stating that number of smuggled cigarettes in the country has increased in 20 percent. According to the statistical data of the Investigative Service of the Ministry of Finance, in 2017, 64 facts of these cases were detected and removed - about 557 600 boxes of  duty-free  cigarettes. In order to eradicate this problem, the relevant services work 24 hours a day. In addition, in 2017, about 300,000 boxes of the cigarettes removed from investigative activities constituted a transit burden that was not intended for the local market.

The so-called story The "Smuggling Way" by Rustavi2 TV Company is actually an ordinary way the citizens living in the occupied territories use for decades. Unlike the insufficient charge of Rustavi 2, the government is oriented on the development of infrastructure at the dividing line.

The Government is implementing projects important for the local population in the adjacent villages. From 2013 up to 91 million GEL valued infrastructural projects have been implemented near dividing line, including roads in villages where the road infrastructure had never been. Water supply, embankment and kindergartens have been reconstructed. Special importance is given to newly constructed Rukhi Trade Center and multi-profile University Hospital in Rukhi. The Rustavi 2 TV Company- only serves to replace these important projects with negative information that has nothing to do with the realty.