Businessman Requests to Start Criminal Prosecution against Vano Merabishvili

Businessman Sergo Beridze appealed to Adjara prosecutor’s office with the request to launch criminal case against Vano Merabishvili, former prime-minister of Georgia. Beridze wants to gain the property back, which Merabishvili had allegedly seized from him. Beridze requests reimbursement of material and moral damage.

Sergo Beridze had leased 13 000 hectares of land in the territory of Akhalsopeli village in the suburbs of Batumi for 49 years. He had opened a sartorial factory, petrol station, car-parking and canteen for about 250 employees of the aforementioned entities in the territory.

“Merabishvili’s friends called me and asked to arrive in Tbilisi. I met Lukhumi Kapandze who wanted to open a wholesale market in my territory and it was Merabishvili’s order. He also promised to pay me the money which I had invested in the property and to appoint me to the position of the market director. What could I do since Merabishvili and his friends were involved in this affair?! I agreed,” said Sergo Beridze.

After the agreement was signed, Sergo Beridze could not receive the promised sum. He claims he had invested 2 million lari in the business but the new owners paid only 85 000 lari to him.

After he requested them to pay the money, on July 13, 2007 he was arrested for the extortion of money. Beridze spent four and half years in prison.

Maka Malakmadze, Adjara