TBC Bank founder hands original letter ‘with threats he received from current PM’ to Prosecutor’s Office

TBC Bank founder Mamuka Khazaradze, who faces money laundering charges in Georgia, says that he has handed a letter “which contains threats” made to him by current PM Giorgi Gakharia to the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office earlier today.

Khazaradze, who says that he received the letter from former Interior Minister and current PM Giorgi Gakharia at the end of last year, has handed the original letter to the Prosecutor’s Office after the letter was studied in London.

Khazaradze mentioned the letter earlier in March while speaking in parliament regarding the money laundering case and gave the copy to the Prosecutor’s Office shortly, but the Prosecutor’s Office refused to start investigation due to the lack of the original document as “it is impossible to study a copy.”

The Prosecutor’s Office released the letter soon after receiving the copy, stating it was typed on the computer and “included no signs” of having been written by Gakharia.

PM Gakharia says that he never writes letters. Photo: government of Georgia press office. 

The letter released reads that M. Kh. (allegedly Mamuka Khazaradze) should have spoken negatively against the United National Movement opposition party ahead of the second round of the presidential elections in November 2018, as he had allegedly been requested to do. 

The letter also mentioned Artarea TV channel in an unclear context and threatenes that ‘if demands are not met we will use all measures [against you].”

• See the full letter here.

Khazaradze and his lawyers say that the study conducted in London unveiled “17 fingerprints” on the letter and now they want from the Prosecutor’s Office to find out whose fingerprints they are and how their owners were connected with the issue.

Gakharia has earlier called Khazaradze a “privileged businessman gossiping from the parliamentary tribune,” and stated that he “never writes letters.”

Speaking with the media earlier today, Gakharia said that he is ready to come to the Prosecutor’s Office if summoned.

After the investigation was launched into the money laundering case, Khazaradze announced his political plans and founded a civil movement Lelo.