Bidzina Gegidze links his inquiry in the State Security Services to politics
By Inga Kakulia
Tuesday, August 20
Member of the Parliament and the Deputy of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Gegidze held a special briefing addressing his inquiry by the State Security Services. According to Gegidze, the reason behind his inquiry was his political activity. ”My summoning to an anti-corruption agency relates to my previous job in the ‘Georgian Post” Company, where I was a deputy director. I had specific responsibilities and competencies. I was doing my work within those competencies. After that I started to carry out my political activity and one of my principles is that a politician should be public, especially a Member of Parliament and I have my principle, the degree of freedom and I try to keep this degree to the highest quality. I became a majoritarian MP in Vake district and later became a member of the political council of the Georgian Dream party. I have always made decisions on the most critical topics based on my principles and the degree of my freedom,” said Gegidze during the briefing.
The Member of the Parliament discussed his political activity and the period of 2018 when he was especially active and was voicing his critical views, positions, and arguments on political processes in Georgia. Gegidze also brought up his friendship with the former prime minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
“Around the same time, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, my friend, resigned. Kvirikashvili resigned in mid-June and the investigation began on August 2, according to the State Security Services. Therefore, it is perfectly logical that no matter who thinks what and who tries to differentiate between politics and the legal side, there is a political factor here, as I am in politics. This investigation began during my active political career. It is logical that this process started by the Anti-Corruption Agency in the summer of 2018 was linked to my political activity and that my pre-service topic was brought up for legal purposes," Bidzina Gegidze said.
On August 19th, The State Security Services announced that summoning Bidzina Gegidze for questioning was related to his previous work.
The Anti-Corruption Agency has been investigating since August 2, 2018, within the framework of which Bidzina Gegidze has been summoned to the Anti-Corruption Agency for questioning as a witness. Bidzina Gegidze was first summoned to the office on May 3 and surrendered on May 3, but his inquiry was not completed. The office surrendered for the second time on August 17. This investigation is related to his previous official activities, according to the SSS.
