The Ministry of Finance responds to the allegations of "Fresco" founder regarding pressure and business racket - the agency calls the allegations unfounded.
The Ministry has released a statement in this regard:
“On February 20, 2018, the audit department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance started tax audit of the Fresco Shopping Center LTD in compliance with the legislation.

As a result of the inspection, a draft of the relevant tax inspection act has been developed, however, the payer does not agree with it. At this stage, the dispute is being discussed by the Dispute Settlement Council of the Revenue Service under the Ministry of Finance and taxi payer is authorized to file an appeal against the decision to the Fort of the Dispute Settlement Council, which is represented by the representatives of various agencies and business sectors.

Consequently, before making a final decision around the dispute, we believe that the allegations made by the founder of "Fresco Shopping Center" Ltd in connection with the pressure on the business by the state are groundless and unsubstantiated.

As for Vasil Sopromadze"s allegations about alleged crimes committed by the employees Ministry of Finance, first of all, we would like to state that for the Ministry of Finance, as for a responsible public agency, condemns any act that hams reputation and professional activities of the system and thousands of people working there.

Based on these principles, the Ministry of Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs has already begun to investigate the allegations voiced by the head of "Fresco Shopping Center"…and in case these violations are confirmed the Ministry of Finance will react in accordance with the law.

In addition, if the allegations of the founder of Fresco Shopping Center LTD are not confirmed, the Ministry reserves the right use the legal way, as well as to demand a public apology from Mr. Sopromadze for misleading the public and inflicting the harm to the reputation of the system intentionally, "the statement reads.