The Organizations in the Printing House “Samshoblo” are Preparing for Protest Actions

The Organizations in the Printing House “Samshoblo” are Preparing for Protest Actions

On New Year’s Eve the printing house “Samshoblo” received a surprise from the government. They found out that The Ministry of Economy is selling the building and initial its purchase price is 20 million dollars.

The building is composed of the representatives of mass media. For more than 100 organizations the decision of The Ministry of Economy was surprise. A few days before that announcement the agency of real estate allowed them to prolong the rent time in the building, and than the same agency ordered them to leave the building. “The decision of the Ministry of Economy was a great astonishment for us, all of us were shocked in those days,” said the director of the publishing house, Zaza Kakhadze.

They found this information on the Ministry’s website. Nobody talked to the employees of printing house personally about this issue. After the letter was sent to the State Minister Kakha Bendukidze and The Minister of Economy Irakli Chogovadze, they have got answer but it was too late and the decision had already been made.The building is 100% under state ownership and will be sold at auction on March 3rd .

The Head of the Professional Union of “Samshoblo,” Leila Dundua, says that there was no offer from the government side to provide them with an alternative building.

The organizations which have existed in this building for more than 10 years are protesting the position of The Ministry. The director of the TV Company “Caucasus” Nino Jangirashvili said that they are planning to hold protest actions starting next week. “It is unclear why the price is so high, 20 million dollars is an unreal amount of money for this building. We are investigating all possible versions of who can be interested with this building. People will not leave this building. Me personally, as one citizen of this state, will not agree with this unfairness,” said Nino Jangirashvili.

According to the director of the printing house Zaza Kakhadze, leaving the building will take at least 3 months for all organizations. This view is shared by the Georgian representative of TV Company “Mir,” Badri Nachkebia. “The city government has to offer us a building with the same width. Still, our movement from this building will be a very difficult process. Our photo laboratory and communication facilities are here, and transportation of these techniques is connected to reasonable amount of money,” he stated.
The position of Ministry of Economics on this issue is unchangeable, and the Ministry is not going to give up. The employees of the printing house are preparing for actions and categorically refuse to leave the building.

Anna Chckaidze