Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

‘Badagoni’ Is about To Sue Ministry of Agriculture

November 17, 2006

vine.gif“Special Operation carried out in the wine company made foreign investors cease their business in Georgia."

On November, 14 controversy was caused by spilling the wine in the factory of Georgian-Italian Company 'Badagoni'. The operation was organized by General Inspection within the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture and Financial Police Kakheti Department. Investors declared that the special operation was a provocation against the development of independent business in the country.

Several weeks ago, on October, 27, Georgian President, Prime-Minister and that time Kakheti Region Governor, Petre Tsiskarishvili opened wine factory of Ltd 'Badagoni' in the village of Khodasheni, in Akhmeta district, Kakheti Region. "Looking at this factory you will get sure that there are no delays. Russia will never defeat Georgia with its economical sanctions. Now Italy got interested in Georgian wine instead of Russia and many others will follow them in future. Embargo taught us to produce better wine," declared president Saakashvili.

"The investment implemented by Italian company is very important for us, particularly now, when we have problems in this field. Opening this factory is more symbolic than it could have been any other time. Company owner is from Sukhumi. It is very important and I hope soon we will drink Badagoni wine in his house in Abkhazia," Zurab Noghaideli said.

Present Minister of Agriculture, Petre Tsiskarishvili, did not make any comments then. However, he did his duty on November 14. Laboratory 'Multi-Test' spent only a day to test the trials of 'Badagoni' wine dated by May 5. The lab immediately made conclusion and submitted their report to 'Samtresti', which informed the Minister that the wine was falsified…

Financial Police Kakheti department launched criminal case on the same day and went to the place to raid the factory. 

"They rushed into the factory and told us they were from the Ministry of Agriculture, Financial Police and Kakheti Regional Administration. They ordered to let them in and to call our board," said Otar Marukashvili, employee from the factory.

Deputy Chairwoman of 'Samtresti', Ketevan Zhghenti produced the conclusion of the Financial Police of Kakheti Department. According to the document, criminal case and preliminary investigation were launched about wine falsification. The document was enclosed by conclusion made at the lab 'Multi-test'. It stated that wine in one of the tanks was made of chemical paints.  They went straight into the building where we keep wine and began to spill wine from the tanks in front of the journalists. We resisted them in vain," said Gia Shengelia, technical director of the Ltd 'Badagoni'.

Director General of the enterprise, Paata Darcmelia, categorically denies the information spread by the Ministry of Agriculture. It stated that twenty tones of wine were spilt. "The tank contains only ten tones of wine and how could they spill twenty tones? The total amount of the wine they have wasted was 150 liters only. It was black PR against us, because we are the best wine factory in the country. We warned organizers of the special operation that we would appeal against them. "Badagoni' wine has no deals with falsification. We also pointed out that officials from the 'Samtresti' had tested four bottles and we kept sealed copies of those bottles in our factory. So, alternative examination can examine wine in those bottles. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture demanded to give them aforementioned bottles but we refused, of course. Partner of the company is famous wine-maker, Doctor Donato Lanati, who includes the list of the best ten wine-makers. 'Badagoni' product is tested every week in the lab 'Enozisi' whose director is the Doctor Lanati.

'I want to declare that the company has invested twelve million euros to produce high quality wine and it  can not be interested to destroy its reputation by falsifying even the least part of the wine," said Director General of the factory.

Board of the 'Badagoni' considers that new Minister of Agriculture, Petre Tsiskarishvili was deceived by the officials from 'Samtresti."

'The special operation was held by a part of 'Samtresti officials who wanted to show off before the new Minister. As for the rumors, as if Petre Tsiskarishvili has personal interests in the company is wrong. He never wanted a share in the company as rumors say. We can not answer the question why the Minister made such mistake if he did any at all?
Mr. Tsiskarishvili is fully aware of our activities and we can not say anything. It should be pointed out, that during last two weeks wine makers and distributors from Canada, the USA, Turkey and Italy showed interest in our product. We have sent our wine to all those countries and they were tested there." said Gia Shengelia and does not exclude the fact that the provocation originated from their rival companies.

-Mr. Gia, which wine companies can be considered as strong ones?

-I will not start to name them. But since Russian market is closed for us, they should vend their wine somewhere. The only market for us is Georgian one which is too small and there is great competition here. We have introduced little amount of our product to Georgian market and it was greatly welcomed. It is clear that we caused concern of certain companies.

-Which Georgian companies do you think are your business rivals?

-Big companies like 'Tbilgvino', 'Teliani Valley', 'Telavi Wine-Cellar', etc. I cannot blame anyone. But there are people who want to do harm to us. After the raid, Russian news programs broadcast that large amount of falsified wine was discovered in 'Badagoni'. So, Russian embargo was right. We were really damaged morally. The worst thing is that our investors find it as oppression on business. They wanted to make investments in some other fields, but after special operation they think that they should not waste their money in Georgia. Here independent business is totally unprotected."

'Samtresti' officials categorically deny charges against them. However, they do not comment the fact. The director of the office, Vasil Managadze was not in Georgia during special operation. 'Badagoni' director said that they got in touch with him, but Managadze did not know anything about the incident. Later on, Managadze said that the operation was carried out on the basis of the conclusions made by independent experts and he trusts them.

Minister of Agriculture, Petre Tsiskarishvili denies his controversy with 'Badagoni'. He had information about falsified wine even when he was Region Governor.  But he received detailed information about it when he became a minister.

President of the 'Badagoni' company, Temur Ubilava calls the special operation in the wine factory the activity against development independent business in Georgia. It was a provocation against investors and rivals of 'Badagoni' committed that crime.

The operation can hinder not only development of the factory but it can destroy Georgia's reputation as well. We insist on inviting international experts. We are ready to fund any kind international testing of 'Badagoni' wine. Lawyers for the company will bring suit to the prosecutor's office against Ministry of Agriculture," it was official statement made by the company.

Parliamentary opposition also commented the incident in 'Badagoni'. They said, 'the company was punished for having refused to pay money to Saakashvili, Okruashvili and Kezerashvili. These people together with their family members control all kind of business in this way.  I am sure Petre Tsiskarishvili could not receive a share in the factory and sent financial police there. Tsiskarishvili has decided to fight business with wild methods in Georgia," said Kakha Kukava, leader of the fraction 'Democratic Front'.

MP Fikria Chikhradze from 'the Rights' agrees with the statement. She thinks that business and foreign investors are terrorized in Georgia. "Terrorized business will never guarantee any country to develop its economics,' she said.

We got in touch with investigation department within Financial Police Kakheti Office. According to Deputy Chief of the department Zurab Tomadze, criminal case on wine falsification is launched under Georgian Criminal Code, Article 197. At present, chemical examination is about to hold and final decision will be made as soon as we have their test result. We asked whether financial police would take responsibility if 'Badagoni' wine is proved not to be falsified, but Zurab Tomadze asked me back: "Don't you watch TV? Have not you heard President's statement?  Don't you know that nobody can blame financial police...?

Gela Mtivlishvili, Kakheti

News