Bankrupt construction companies blame former Gov’t

Two Georgian construction companies are blaming the former government as the reason their businesses went bankrupt.

Directors of the companies entitled Injmsheni and Tbilmretsvmsheni met with the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure today to discuss the accusations.

At a joint press conference, the director of Injmsheni Niko Sharabidze, claimed his business "was bankrupted intentionally by former Government high officials”.

He said his company had been operating for 50 years and in that time, the company had implemented several high budget projects including construction of the Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel, the Courtyard Marriott Hotel and the former Presidential Palace in Tbilisi.

Highlighting details of the accusation, Sharabidze said: "I was visited by a man who told me that the Government were interested in money laundering. This man was the head of the Caucasus University Kakha Shengelia. At that time, my company was doing the construction works in Makhata Mountain in Tbilisi for Caucasus University.

"Shengelia himself transferred 2 million GEL into my company’s corporate account. Shortly after I withdrew the money from the account and gave it to him in cash. I was afraid and we wrote that we did the construction works and gave him money.”

Sharabidze believed the former Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure Minister Ramaz Nikoleishvili was pressuring the company.

The director also named other facts at the press conference.

In 2010, Sharabidze was imprisoned for financial extortion and was released on parole for 1 million GEL.

Meanwhile at the press conference the director of the company Tbilmretsvmsheni, Geno Nijaradze, said former Government officials often asked him to help transfer money into several bank accounts.

"Once I did not transferred the money and shortly after the company was fined by the financial police,” he said.

The companies have already begun to take action against former Government officials.