Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen: business in Georgia free, protected

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said on Tuesday that businesses in Georgia operate freely and without state interference, describing the sector as “untouchable.” He credited the Georgian Dream government with ending the pressure, intimidation, and expropriation that characterised the period before 2012, and said the reforms introduced since then have helped create a business-friendly environment that supports investment and economic growth.

“Today business is completely free. The fact that the country is developing economically and moving forward is largely thanks to the special role of business. Of course, the government, through its actions, steps taken, and legislative initiatives, contributes to creating an attractive and easy business environment in the country”, he said.

The official further highlighted that since the Georgian Dream party came to power in 2012, practices such as terror, forced re-registrations, and expropriation have been eliminated.

“Everything that was happening for years - terror, expropriation, forced re-registrations - was left in the past in 2012 when we came to power. Today business is absolutely protected, and any person can very easily, transparently, and within the framework of the law conduct their business without any problems”, Kaladze noted.

He further stressed that any person, including businessmen, could express critical opinions, but insults and foul language were unacceptable and constitute a crime.

“Today, any person in the country can express their attitude and opinion on absolutely all directions and all issues. However, verbally insulting someone is categorically unacceptable. Someone may have a different attitude, but that does not mean you should rush into social media and insult them. This is not freedom of speech and expression. This is rudeness and a crime. If a person expresses their opinion on any issue, it must be within the framework of the law and not involve swearing or foul language. Freedom of expression is protected in the country like never before”, he stressed.

Kaladze further argued that the current government did not discriminate against business owners based on their political views.

“Every business entity makes its own decisions on how to act and what to do. Do you really think that 100% of businesses are supporters of the Georgian Dream? For example, take businessman Mamuka Khazaradze, one of the main financiers of TV company Pirveli, who owns a development company in the capital”, Kaladze said.

“You cannot provide a single example of any interference from the municipality or the state against him. This indicates that today business is free and untouchable. This is the result of the policy implemented by Georgian Dream under the leadership of Bidzina Ivanishvili. Let’s recall what was happening years ago - if any businessman openly financed the opposition, what they would do to him and what situation they would put him in”, he concluded.