"We are concerned about the fact that we have no problem with this project on the one hand and on the other hand, one of the structures of the state makes a public statement when the investigation is not over," said Mamuka Khazaradze, the founder of TBC Bank when talking about Anaklia Port.
Mamuka Khazaradze made the first explanations after the developments around TBC Bank and stated that Anaklia port project is in the main stage.According to Khazaradze, when the government supports the development of the Anaklia port project, it is worrying that the Prosecutor"s Office is launching an investigation in parallel.It is also a disturbing fact that the Prosecutor"s Office is making public a certain part of the case when the investigation is not completed.
Mamuka Khazaradze explains that the implementation of Anaklia port project will be significantly damaged by the fact that the international press informs that he and Badri Japaridze have a connection with the crime.
“This expedited investigation launched by the Prosecutors’ office, and the information dumps which ended up on Google and the international press, implying that myself and Badri [Japaridze] are allegedly linked to crime” are certainly damaging, as TBC Holding seeks to conclude financing agreemen“I will make no further comments. On the other hand, the state supports us [regarding Anaklia port]. This worries me a bit, that on one hand there are no delays concerning the project, and on the other, there is this expedited investigation, the official entity is making statements, while the investigation is not yet concluded,” he added.
On 14 February, the National Bank sent a letter to TBC Bank and gave TBC Bank’s shareholders two months notice to remove the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Mamuka Khazaradze and his deputy Badri Japaridze from the Supervisory Board. The NBG says its decision is linked with the cases of violations of the legislation related to the conflict of interest in transactions of 2007-2008, detected during the examination of the TBC Bank’s accounts.
As opponents of the government say, Bidzina Ivanishvili has personal dispute with Mamuka Khazaradze.According to them, Khazaradze is a potential threat to Ivanishvili. In addition, the problem is Anaklia"s port, Ivanishvili"s goal is to seize this project, which in itself is in the interests of Russia.