Gia Volski Criticizes Helsinki Commission's Claims on Scam Call Centers and Georgian Government
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Gia Volski, the First Vice-Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, has dismissed recent allegations made by the US Helsinki Commission regarding the involvement of the Georgian government in illegal scam call center operations. The Helsinki Commission claimed that the Georgian government relies on "black money" from fraudulent call centers to fund its operations and target opposition groups.
Volski expressed his concerns over the statement, calling it "very disturbing". He emphasized that the Georgian prosecutor's office, in collaboration with European authorities, is actively investigating the scam call centers.
"The statement by the Helsinki Commission seems to transfer us from a reality where we are dealing with actual investigations and potential crimes, to a fictional scenario where the Georgian government is accused of involvement in call center crimes," Volski said. He suggested that the Helsinki Commission's remarks might be an attempt to undermine the legitimacy of upcoming elections by implying that the opposition's alleged use of "dirty money" could influence the electoral process.
Volski underscored the strong historical partnership between Georgia and the United States and expressed hope that this relationship would continue unaffected by recent controversies. "Georgia has always been a very solid and loyal partner of the USA, and hopefully, our relationship will continue in the same way in the future," he stated.
