Svanidze and the Partners

“Due to the circumstances I am lacking the opportunity to write this letter in details, hereby I shall tell you a brief story about the provocation events that took place on 27th August, 2005 from my point of view.

I have never, neither by single word offered Bekauri not to forecast investigative film about his activities instead of giving me money. It was impossible to do this as the film had been preparing by the studio “Reporter” with which channel 202 has contract based relationships. By forbidding forecasting the film I would invoke a scandal, despite of which film would see the light any way. In fact, everything was vise versa. During the last 4 months, Bekauri had been asking, begging, and threatening me not to show the film on TV. His calls (which are recorded on my phone) were so irritating that I had been telling a lot of people to take this burr Bekauri away from me. Among these people are Levan Ramishvili from the Institute of Liberty, Tina Khidasheli and the staff members of Studio “Reporter”. I had been explaining to Bekauri that the film would be created as fairly as possible and that it was impossible to forbid the film forecasting. I have arranged his meeting with members of Studio “Reporter” twice. These meetings are taped on video camera. Bekauri had being refused each time. Bekauri did not stop. He had been meeting with me, with my partners in 202 and journalists and was urging to stop the film.
Unexpectedly, on 23 or 24 August, when I was in Kobuleti, Irma Stepnadze – a person whom I knew well has called me and told me that Bekauri had some good commercial proposal to me. I refused to discuss this proposal. After arriving to Tbilisi, I have met Stepnadze who told me that Bekauri was offering an unbelievable sum 100.000 $ in order to stop the film. I assumed that this fact would strengthen arguments in the film, as it was usual for the Government not to react on facts showed in the film. As Vakho Komakhidze was not in Tbilisi and thereby I had no opportunity to use candid camera (it was taken by Vakho) I demanded from Bekauri to make transaction, in other words to transfer the money personally by Bekauri on my bank account under the observance by other people. Basis Bank officials namely, Zurab Tsikhistavi is aware of it. On 26 August I have asked Tsikhistavi to provide with separate room on 27 August for me and Bekauri (I have mentioned this name before him) where the money would be counted and which would be equipped with cameras in order to tape this transaction. On 27 August in the morning Irma has called me and told me that plans have been changed and that money would be given at her place. I have called to Dato Kohkreidze and ask him to take me at Irma’s flat on Barnovi Street. On the way to Irma’s house I told him that I was going to meet Bekauri and to take money from him. I had no time to explain him all the details of this matter as Kokhreidze had arrived from Kobuleti late at night a day before. Changing the place of meeting by Bekauri made me think that he afraid and changed his mind to give the money. On 27 at the meeting Bekauri came with envelope full with money this convinced me that all was very serious and I have taken money. If I refused to do so, Bekauri would suspect something and would never come on the next meeting. I intended to tape money transaction on the next meeting. Vakho Komakhidze would arrive before that meeting and everything would be all right. Unfortunately, my first try to conduct the investigation has been ended by the provocation. All the facts I have provided within this letter may and must be checked by phone records and the examinations of witnesses. However, the main point is that they have the tape against me on which I am taking the money. Money is taken as false evidence and the words of Bekauri are his testimony. Now you have my testimony. Which one will be more valuable – Bekauri’s word or my word it is to be decided by my audience and my people. I just have a hope in you”.

Shalva Ramishvili