Prime Minister: Georgia’s public servants must act responsibly

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is calling for the thorough investigation of an alleged case of abuse of power by a public servant in Batumi, in western Georgia.

Local media reported Aleksandre Mikeladze, who is head of Batumi Water, the municipal water utility company, visited a restaurant in Batumi city earlier this week and caused a commotion after the seat where he and his guests wanted to sit was occupied.

Reports claimed the restaurant offered the party another table however Mikeladze left the restaurant and a short time later the water supply to the restaurant was disconnected. The restaurant claimed surrounding businesses and homes had a normal water supply and alleged the leader of Batumi Water disconnected the water to the restaurant on purpose.

The restaurant made an official complaint against the municipal company to the Prosecutor’s Office.

Georgia’s Prime Minister raised the allegation at today’s Governmental meeting.

"I want to comment on the case which I first learned from the media but have since become very interested in it. If I’m not mistaken it concerned the head of Batumi Water and certain allegations that after a dispute the water supply was cut off to one of the facilities,” Kvirikashvili said.

"I want to ask the Ministry of Regional Development to do their best to learn the details of the case.”

Kvirikashvili said if the allegations turned out to be true, he wanted the head of Batumi Water to immediately step down from his post.

"This is unacceptable. We cannot tolerate it when public servants use their power to fulfill their personal wishes,” the Prime Minister said.

Kvirikashvili did not rule out the potential the allegations could be false, but he said this would be revealed following an investigation.

He called on all public servants to lead by example and represent the state-oriented style of thinking.

"We should establish a very high standard of actions by public servants,” he stressed.