Constitutional Security Department detains corruption suspects

On January 27 officers of the Constitutional Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained three persons suspected of corruption.

According to the Head of the Constitutional Security Department, the detainees are Giorgi Machitidze, the head of international communications company Global Erti, Tornike Gvazava, an employee of the Chamber of Control of Georgia, and National Bank of Georgia officer Davit Kvaskhvadze.

It is alleged that the NBG employee was giving information to the Head of Global Erti with the help of Gvazava, who acted as a mediator and provided information about a tender announced by the NBG. The Messenger has contacted the Press Centre of the National Bank of Georgia, but it has made no comment so far.

“Davit Kvaskhvadze, assisted by Tornike Gvazava who acted as mediator, contacted Giorgi Machitidze and provided him with confidential information regarding a tender announced by the NBG. As a result of the received information Global Erti gained a considerable advantage over other candidates participating in the mentioned tender and consequently managed to succeed,” the Head of the Constitutional Security Department, Soso Topuridze, stated yesterday.

Machitidze was arrested in his own office. The company continues to work as usual. Employees of Global Erti have told journalists that work goes on as before and they have no information about the matters alleged.

According to Chairman of the Chamber of Control Levan Bezhashvili the exact content of the accusations is not yet known to the Chamber, although it is cooperating with the investigation.

The case is being investigated by the officers of Constitutional Security Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.